It was double celebrations at Enugu last week as Enugu Chamber Choir rendered special songs in honour of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, at the grand finale of the annual Life in My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF). Its theme was The Other Side. Venue was the International Conference Centre, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, Assistant Editor (Arts) OZOLUA UHAKHEME reports.
I felt so nervous and scared when I saw the massive art works produced by the artists as well as the creative dexterity put into production of their works. In fact, it is truly a competition. As the announcement was being made and the number of contestants on the podium kept reducing, my anxiety rose. But, by faith I was expecting the award.”
That was the reaction of an excited Victor Emmanuel Olaoye, a 400-level student of Adeyemi Federal University, Ondo who, last Saturday, emerged the overall best at this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) in Enugu. He got a prize of N500,000 and a sponsorship to attend an international exhibition. His work, Angel among gods, was adjudged the best entry of the final shortlist of 100. No fewer than 550 entries from across the country made it to the first round of the competition.
Angel among gods, a painting of charcoal and acrylic on canvas, is an epiphany of truth and the mystery of man and angels upon earth, and the reality of man as gods. The art piece was “inspired by the truth and revelation of gods walking with angels. Who are these gods? Gods are men from creation with the dominion to rule over everything on earth no matter the cultural differences or religion in the hands of man”.
Other winners of the top four prizes were Samson Ejiofor Mmadubuchi (Best Sculpture/Installation/Ceramics); Fagorusi Folashade Rashidat (Best Textile Art) and Clarke Toritseju Favour (Graphic/Multimedia/Digital art). Winners of the endowed prizes were Chuwuma Doris Onyinye (Justice Anthony Aniagolua Prize for originality), Idowu Emmanuel Dare (Dr. Pius Okigbo Prize for technical proficiency), Lamie Atonye (Lawrence Agada Prize for the most-promising young artist) and Nnorom Samuel John, (VinMartin Ilo Prize for best overall entry from Enugu State).
Seventeen other artists got consolation prizes.
An elated Olaoye, who could not hide his joy, said the cash would be utilised to build and invest in his capacity as an artist, especially in the area of sharpening his skill.
He is a self-taught figurative and realistic artist, a trait that started from childhood. His practice over the years has brought about a quest for the true human identity and change in the concept of life itself and the reason for human existence. Through his creative ideas, epiphany and satori charcoal drawings, he creates a unique style in art, bringing the reality in the sprit realm into the physical world.
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Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who assured organisers of the festival of his continued support and collaboration, described LIMCAF as a true representation of the Biblical injunction that thou should not despise small beginning as the festival has grown from strength to strength. He said the festival has become one of the most prestigious longest running festivals in the country.
He said: “Enugu State is particularly grateful to you for bringing this annual event to the state. We appreciate how much your presence alone contributes to the economy of the state. You can be sure that I will keep hosting and collaborating with you. I thank you for creating workshop for the children and for helping to catch them young.”
Patron of the festival His Royal Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha. called on governors of Southeast to declare the month of October for the celebration of arts in the region.
He disclosed that this year’s festival was conveniently fixed to coincide with the post-humours birthday celebration of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Owelle of Onitsha, who turned 115 on Saturday, November 16.
“Today, we started at Onitsha with the opening of the new office of Okpalanze in honour of Nnamdi Azikwe. As I stand here, I feel completely fulfilled… My own idea is that the month of October should be declared for creative arts in Southeast region. We have the Oreze at every Ofala festival, which features over 140 artworks by 140 artists from Nigeria, Africa and outside Africa at this year’s edition.
“This year, we started with a symposium as part of the activities and I’m sure so many people who were at that symposium are here. We have LIMCAF, Oreze and Anambra Book and Creativity Festival and others. Creative art is not just visual art. It involves art, literature, music, dance, masquerade etc. October is for Southeast. Let the whole world come here to savour the rich culture of the region,” he said.
He noted that some of the contestants would earn prizes, but that the greatest prize that all of them would receive today is the opportunity to know each other. “I’m sure many of them will become future masters of creative art not just in Nigeria but in the world at large,” he added.
Chairman, LIMCAF Board, Elder K Uke Kalu, said the top six winners at this year’s edition would join the six of last year’s edition on an all-expense paid visit and participation in Dak’Art Biennale in Senegal next year, courtesy of Prof El Anatsui.
For the first time in 13 years, owners of the 100 works on exhibition at the grand finale were sponsored to Enugu.
A five-man jury, led by Nsikak Essien, made the final selection of winners.
Essien said the process of selection was democratic, adding that the 100 works in the exhibition are ‘imbued with the winning potential in their own rights. Thus, everyone whose work is in this collection is a winner.’
According to him, the jury’s work is that of moderation of freewill; freewill of the artist to relate his/her creations to the various possibilities the theme offers. Selecting 100 out of more than 500 entries that registered this year is the first signal of the enormous work left in the jury’s domain. First process was the online elimination of some entries and a further critical selection by the zonal jury, from the various zones. These processes, he said, culminated in the compilation of a hundred works with high aesthetic promise as typified in the exhibition. “A more critical parameter comprising: originality, visual content, proficiency in media control, finishing and presentation, and paradigm shift/wow factor were employed to trim down from 50 to 25 artworks. It is from this handful that the specific prize categories were rigorously arrived at,” he added.
Other members of the team were Sam Ovraiti, Klaranze Okhide, Erasmus Onyishi and Dr Lasisi Lamidi.
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