By Ozolua Uhakheme
No fewer than 250 artworks will be showcased at Oreze V11 today at Ime Obi (Obi of Onitsha Palace), Ezechima Square, Onitsha, Anambra State.
The exhibition, which will run till Sunday, October 13, will feature artworks in three categories. They include works by artists from West African countries, by Nigerian artists, and by those in the Diaspora, in addition to those by artists of Onitsha origin as well as others practising in various parts of Southeast.
Professor of Art History and Theory, Department of Fine Art and Design, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Frank Ugiomoh, is special guest at the opening ceremony.
Oreze V11 is part of activities marking this year’s Ofala of the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe.
According to the monarch who is the chief host of the exhibition, Oreze is part of efforts to ensure that art making, appreciation and enjoyment is accessible to a wider cross section of our society, including those in the provincial and rural communities.
The exhibition’s curator, George Edozie, disclosed that Oreze VII promises to be a festival of colours and creative energies in a collection of great works of art from multi-talented artists to celebrate this year’s Ofala.
The Oreze art exhibition series has been conceptualised and promoted under the auspices of Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation. It holds annually during the Ofala of the Obi of Onitsha. It opened for the first time as Oreze 1 on October 7, 2013, the eve of that year’s Ofala.
Oreze has grown in leaps and bounds and has had some of the largest collection of works in a group show in Africa. It continues to feature artists from various parts of the world and has served as an avenue for promoting up and coming artists.
On Thursday, October 10, a panel of discussion on the Role of art in community enlightenment, Cohesion and Development’ will hold as part of the exhibition. Panelists include artists, such as Tayo Adenaike, Obiora Anidi, and Nneka Odoh.
Others are art collector Hakeem Adedeji, and art curator Iheanyi Onwuegbucha. Prof. Ugiomoh will moderate the discussion.
The Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation has been established by Obi of Onitsha.The foundation seeks to help create a future in which African art achieves greater visibility, appreciation, relevance and sustainability. The Chimedie Museum Trust Foundation is a centre of excellence for the development and promotion of African art as a vehicle for community transformation. In this regard, it has decided to establish the Chimedie Museum in Onitsha. Construction of the museum building is underway.
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