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Tag: artist

  • Meet the Artist 2015 makes its debut in Lagos

    Meet the Artist 2015 makes its debut in Lagos

     

    Artists have been advised to  think less of pecuniary gains and embark on the expansion of ideas. Winner of the 2011 National Art Competition Uche Uzorka gave the advice at the maiden edition of this year’s “Meet the Artist”.

    Artists, he said, should create value in their works, adding that their efforts art will yield money. “Artists should always strive to explore and increase in knowledge and not  see themselves as an island,” he said.

    The event,  held at the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) gallery in Ikoyi, Lagos was attended by artists and art lovers.

    At the event Uche Uzorka displayed his  works that include  Where were you when I was here? and It feels strange to pay for Nigerian food’. The works are products of his residency at the Iwalewa Haus, Bayreuth and Savvy Contemporary, Berlin in Germany.

    Where were you when I was here? is a collage achieved through cutting up images that represent works stored in the Iwalewa-Haus archive; works that are familiar, yet disconnected from their origins. Uzorka focuses on the simultaneous presence and absence of contemporary African art within and outside the continent.

    He hopes to raise questions bordering on daily relationships, consumption of archival art, and the problem faced in Nigeria and many countries where access to original works is limited.

    It feels strange to pay for Nigerian food is a  three-piece installation on his experience as a Nigerian in Berlin. According to him, the theme explores alienation, inclusion and the external perception of a subject by addressing anonymous authorship and the free archive that the web represents.

    He worked with phrases and search captions on internet search engines. The artist relied  on the internet for information about his chosen subject, Nigeria. By employing image re-presentation through shredding, the images gain a new form and meaning when grouped into smaller, more manageable quantities. The idea was to process images in multiples of small units and store them in bags and sachets for visual presentation.

    Uzorka said he was inspired by various environments. “Challenges have always been funds. So, materials like papers and fabrics I find around I use them to tell my story. So far I have worked with African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and the Goethe-Institut”.

    He said he derives joy in making art pieces , adding that art makes him to reflect and understand things better.

    His words: “I decided to become an artist because I wanted freedom to express my imagination and not be an employee. I wanted to be able to dig into ideas and understand life better. It was all about freedom and not being caught up in an office setting. Whatever you do in life you have to find a way of succeeding. I enjoy making art first before the money comes in. Make the ideas macro and the money micro.”

    Uzorka  a mixed media artist,  lives in Lagos. He was born in 1974 in Delta State,  and graduated in 2001 from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, practice incorporates painting, collage, cutting, pasting, charcoal, and ink drawing in an examination of processes of urban street culture. Uzorka won first place in the National Art Competition in 2011 for his collaboration with artist Chike Obeagu. His first solo exhibition, The Organic, was held in October 2012 at the Goethe-Institut in association with AAF Artists’ Foundation. Line.Sign.Symbol, Uzorka second solo exhibition, was held at the AAF in January 2013.

     

  • Foundation unveils Sally The Artist

    Director-General, of Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Dr. Sally Uwechue-Mbanefo, will on February 22 exhibit some of works as part of activities to mark her 50th birthday. She will present a charity art exhibition tagged: Sally The Artist,  featuring her paintings and a coffee table book containing over 150 of her paintings at the Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos at 4pm. It be followed by a dinner at 6 o’clock.

    Earlier in the day, a thanksgiving mass will hold at the Holy Cross Cathedral (Catholic Church), Lagos Island, opposite City Hall, Lagos, by 8am. On Monday, there will be a service at the Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Musa Yar’Adua Street on Victoria Island, Lagos, at 1p.m.

    A statement by The Sally Mbanefo Foundation (organisers of the event), said the  would be hosted by Mbanefo’s expatriate friends, brothers and sisters in Lagos. The proceeds from the sale of the coffee table book will be used to build vocational skills acquisition schools for the under-privileged, starting with Lagos State. The statement added that subsequently, It is intended that the school will be run from proceeds of the annual auction of Mbanefo’s paintings and sculptures.

     

  • Behold ‘best artist in the world’

    Behold ‘best artist in the world’

    Despite his seeming low profile at Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Olugbenga Akande emerged the ‘best artist in the world’ at an international art exhibition in Paris, France, reports Assistant Editor (Arts) Ozolua Uhakheme.

    His name may not ring a bell among mainstream arts collectors and within the exhibition circuit. Yet, the self-trained Ibadan based-artist, Olugbenga Akande is a rare artist with a strong passion for the art. He would sell off his property to attend an art exhibition anywhere.

    Last year, his efforts paid off as he was rewarded for his stylistic value at an international exhibition, La grand exposition universelle, in Paris, France. He bagged the ‘best artist in the world’.

    His winning artwork, Eyo featured  at an exhibition that hosted 81 artists from 31 countries.The organisers of the exhibition came for secret room of art in Palemo, Italy.

    Akande said he chose to sell his property to attend art exhibitions not because of any material gains, but to network with artists from across the globe. He said he was more comfortable dealing with artists and gallery owners outside.

    “I sell my property to attend art exhibition across the globe. It gives me greater opportunity to meet captains of the industry on the world stage. I don’t think anything good can come from the local fronts, so I collaborate with foreign galleries, especially in the marketing of my paintings,” he said.

    His first international exhibition was in December 2013 at Florence, Italy. He was part of eight-man group exhibition.  Sallamattise Gallery in Torino, Italy is one of the galleries that sell his paintings in Europe. At Polo Club, Ibadan in 2010, he participated in an exhibition, My Exposure for a week. His theme dwells on African culture, history, languages and dances. Some of his paintings include Return to chance, Your Highness, The Reed dance and Many rivers to cross.

    He disclosed that he was planning a street carnival that would feature dances from African and Europe. The project, he said, was to provides a forum for artists to broaden their minds about Nigeria and Africa.

    Akande, who is founder of Gbegi’s Art Gallery at Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State went into art business after leaving Lagelu, Grammar school, Ibadan. According to him, his first gallery was burnt by his siblings because they wanted him to go for further studies. He later studied at the Federal Cooperative College between 192 and 1984 for a diploma.

    Asked why he was not keen at exhibiting locally in cities such as Lagos, he said: “I sell my works which are mainly paintings and portraitures. In fact, I just want to be on my own.”

    He however, noted that he was not perturbed by the relatively low patronage of art in Ibadan, saying: ‘I am not into art to make money but to follow my passion. If money is at the back of my mind, I will not be a good artist. However, I have clients like hotels that demand my paintings.’

     

    The France award

     

    “I am so happy to be recognised and awarded the best artist in the world. I received the award at the grand universal exposition Gustav Eiffel Hall, Eiffel Tower on the 125th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower on October 23, 2014, featuring 80 other contemporary artists from 31 countries, including three Morocco and Algeria. It was curated by Francesco Saviero Russo and Salvatore Russo. It is worthy to be awarded at the most prestigious art exposition in the world. I am so delighted to see myself among the best in the world as a Nigerian, am glad and as an African, am proud

    I find myself at the top echelons of art, art merchandising and its absolute practice in totality world over. Recognised for whom I am, has paved the way for me. I have been invited to the most prestigious art expositions, international biennials of art around the world. It has given me the privilege to know the best and active curators, international art consultants, art critics, valuers, galleries, gallerists and others.

     

    Benefits of the award

     

    I have exhibited at the Gustav Eiffel Hall and the Louve Gallery and many other galleries along with my fellows and I am still going places. In a nutshell, the award is a career boaster and absolute identity that has given me quantum leap in progress. I am a force to be reckoned with in contemporary art world. It means that African arts have been accepted into the mainstream contemporary art world because until now, most people still believe African art is a tribal art instead of being the basin of modern contemporary arts.

    The best thing I can do to myself is invest in my ability and passion which I have always done and I will do all over again and again and again. To get invited to foreign exposition is the big deal. It’s the dream of every living artist and I thank God that I fall into that category. It gives me the privilege of getting to know the Who is Who and the controllers of the contemporary art world. I also get to meet other fascinating artists from across the globe.

    It has always been advised that ‘use what you have to get what you want, I have no regrets whatsoever in properties I have sold to get to where I am today. I am the best artist in the world for the stylish value and that is authentic.

    I am a self-thought artist with over 30 years as a professional and I have had the privilege of meeting great artists, consultants. I have also visited various museums and galleries across the world, I have viewed the works of several masters from ancient times and I have worked with various local artists in my over three decades of practise.

     

    Artists as role models

    I see artists, such as Massacio, Leonardo Da Vinci, Giotto, Rembrandt, Friday Kalo, Gustav, Salvador Dali, Piccaso, Edvard Munch, Raphael, Sandro Botticelli as some of my favourite artists.  I also appreciate some of our artists, such as the late Aina Onabolu, Erhabor Emokpae, Demas Nwoko, Kolade Oshinowo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Muthada Lawal, Adisa, Adewoles, Clara Aden, Jimi Solanke and others.

     

    Impact on the local art market

     

    In this part of the world, sponsors are hard to come by and it’s necessary I do things that will improve my standard positively

    The art market scene is nothing to write home about compared to what is available in other world. Firstly, there is no help for the Nigerian artist either from the banks, government, corporations, culture and tourism ministry etc.

    Secondly, not much is done on talent development in this country, from whichever angle you view the prospect.

    Thirdly,  Nigeria has economic/financial crisis and this cannot allow the citizens to think of collecting works of art as they have to struggle to keep body and soul together.

    There is no much collaboration between the artists, the galleries, the museums, arts and culture ministry, art institutions and foundations and art merchandising companies. Museums, art institutions are not properly funded, so they have nothing to offer the developing artist or the true artist.

    There is less of art merchandising companies, foundations, maximum galleries, credible art consultants, curators, critics, collectors and credible galleries and gallerists that can truly propel our art and artists on platforms in the international scenes.

    Aalso, there is less collaborations between art institutions in Nigeria and their foreign counterparts despite the richness of the artworks we produce here. The  market scene is not buoyant enough to support and assist in producing quality artists that can stand the test of time both locally and internationally with exception to a limited few.

     

    Expectation

     

    Things will get better if the government, the banks, financial institutions, corporations and foundations, embassies, arts and culture ministry can review their policies to favour the artist. The  art industry needs  total overhauling to assist our ability to be competitive globally. Hardly can we find a parent organisation whose primary aim is to get the true artist in our mist busy all year round.

    If these issues are properly addressed, the nation will generate adequate revenues from our arts and cultural practice like other developed nations.

  • Medical student turns artist

    Medical student turns artist

    His first love is  in the health care profession but driven by an inner passion and love for the arts, a young medical student now ekes a living from painting, writes DANIEL ESSIET. 

    Etiobhio Samuel Osemudiamen,  a 23 year-old final year medical student of University of Benin (UNIBEN), may be pursuing a career in the medical profession, but he has another love.

    From a very young age, he had fallen in love with the arts, especially painting. And as his passion  grew, he began to realise the potential in the vocation.

    Today, he not only earns income from painting, more than enough to take care of some of his needs on campus, he is also imparting knowledge in other students that are interested in painting.

    For Osemudiamen, the journey into the world of arts began with N2, 000 with which he bought some paints and materials and began to draw.

    His experience with digital art keeps him connected to modern art as he continues his practice, while still studying medicine. Taking the stage at several events,Ose, as he is fondly called by his peers, has  not only taken people on his journey, his paint strokes create a vibrant image and also inspires people to think about innovation, taking success to the next level and living the dream.

    He has been selling art work consistently since his junior high school years. He paints, frames and sells them. He peeks inside a few galleries for more concepts whenever he can steal a moment between classes, and painting.

    In 2012, Ose established a studio, Magnum Arts,to encourage and bring out the intellectual capability in young Nigerians using fine art, and painting in general. Members feature in trainingsthat help them refine their products and increase customer acquisition. The ideas and solutions showcased by young people  not only address real customer needs and issues, but  also help in the creation of local jobs and serving young people in realising financial independence. As an artist, Ose combines his two passions to demonstrate the journey for his entrepreneurship endeavour, while also providing motivation to others.

    In the last two years, Ose  has created  online hub for lovers of arts and artists to meet, discuss and interact through sharing of ideas relevant to their field. The platform also offers a marketplace for them to showcase and sell their creations to lovers locally and across the world.

    His latest achievement is an art blogging competition involving budding  arts entrepreneurs and students.

    So far, he has gotten responses from different universities and outfits round the country and people really want the competition to be more popularised.

    His entrepreneurial achievements are becoming valuable pacesetters. This year, the club has recorded  N350,000 as  net  profit from its activities.

  • Artist’s Muse at Didi Museum

    ately, I had to deal with questions about my works which people think it lacks African culture. I studied abroad and it will be pretentious to say that I was not influenced by the western culture”.

    This is Lakin Ogunbanwo’s view at a medi parley in Lagos on his second solo exhibition titled Muse, which opened at Didi Museum,Lagos. The two-part exhibition will run till February 19th, 2014 at the Wheatbaker Hotel,Lagos.

    Muse is a beautifully curated collection of portraits, which gives people an insight into the mind of the artist and his visual interpretations of his subjects. It is a juxtaposition between highly stylisted imagery and a subtle raw,moody imagery. The exhibition captures beauty, or one’s idea of it.

    Lakin plays with the perception of glamour associated with models by capturing moments that give a glimpse into the models’ real lives. According to him, ‘I started shooting fashion pictures in 2011 and these subjects are people that I have worked with closely all these years’.

    Inspired by the yearning to use photography as a medium to foster discussion on the subject of our sexuality,creed, or gender, Lakin uses Muse to explore notions of visualisation and impressions, using three ‘muses’ to create this extraordinary body of work.

    He said that there are some moments he sees at the back of the camera that people cannot see. He said that he loves the dark skin because it is very easy to work with and it easily displays the elements of shadows.

    Lakin’s first solo exhibition was in South Africa and according to him, “Muse” is a source of inspiriation and every photographer uses muse

    Through his distinctive vision,Lakin asks his audience to immerse themselves in the idea of possibility within the notions of beauty and identity; holding the audience’s attention with visuals that draws them into the subjects for how they look, and sometimes for who they may possibly be

    ‘I don’t have titles for my images because I want people to visualise the works and come out with their own perception. My art is for everyone and so, I want people to give it their own interpretations’. He said.

    The “Muse” is a 35-piece exhibition and will be curated by Marc Prust.

    Lakin is a multi talented Nigerian born and based photographer who began practicing his art while studying at Law school in the UK. Completely self-taught, he made his way to Paris where he fine-tuned his talent at the Speos Photography Institute.

    Lakin earned a top spot on CNN’s profile of “Africa’s Most Exciting New Photographers”. He has been part of the annual LagosPhoto festival.

     

  • Edozie’s Afro Love on canvas

    Edozie’s Afro Love on canvas

    The essence of art according to one of Nigerian modern artists, George Edozie is not just creating a piece of art work that is hanged on the wall as object of decoration.

    To him, it is a medium which can be used to achieve a lot in the society, especially to address social-cultural, political and economic in a society.

    “A good work of art is created by the artist with his body and soul and the art work should carry a strong message, record history, mirror the society that the work is created in. There should be a link between the artist and his work; one should be able to relate the artist with his works,” he said.

    Edozie will be hosting his 4th solo art exhibition of paintings and sculptures, entitled: Afro Love starting from Saturday November 23 to 30, at Alexis Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos. “Afro Love depicts the life of a creative person (artist) his struggles, his family and love life, social and economic factors, the society he lives in, how it affects his life as an artist, the challenges of an artist living in Africa,” he noted.

    “My ideology now is that art is a universal language which cut across different cultures or races. I have experienced over the years that people acquire works of art without knowing the artist’s cultural back ground, not speaking the same language with the artist or understanding the symbols and designs in the work but goes ahead to acquire the work because it makes an impression on them,” the artist said. About 20 paintings and sculptures including works such as 10 Faces of Onyeoma, Annunciation, and City Girls will be showcased during the exhibition. A common thread in most of these works is the feminine figures. The works are a combination of fabric and paints while the sculptures were made with fabrics of brilliant colours.

    With 18 years experience in visual art profession, Edozie observed that some political, religious and economic factors affect many artists not just in Nigeria alone but also in Africa. “A closer look on life as an artist, life as a young painter, struggling for survival, having left the Art school to practice as an artist, married life as an artist, facing the society, the struggle to convince people around you on your choice of profession. Sourcing for funds to create works of art, creating of art in a bizarre environment without basic amenities, turning into a marketer to sell the works, struggling to develop one’s spiritual life among colleagues and friends that are atheist and still try to make good art in a society where governance is like slavery,” he said..

    Despite all these, “there is still love for the land. A work of art created in Africa happens to find its way abroad; people are marveled at the high creative ability of the African artist. The big question is do we continue to live in this society and still practices art or a much better society where we can do better. Where do we go from here……? Edozie asked.

    Edozie was born in Enugu State; he studied Fine and Applied Arts at the University of Benin where he majored in Painting, and graduated with a BA (Hons Fine and Applied Arts) in 1996. He has participated in 69 group exhibitions within and outside Nigeria. He is also the co-author of the book 101 Contemporary Artist, A Celebration of Modern Nigerian Art and Nigerian Contemporary Art published in 2010.

  • Foundation hosts self-taught artist

    Foundation hosts self-taught artist

    Ibrahim Adebayo Lawal’s Memory and Metaphor which opened recently at the African Artists’ Foundation Gallery on Raymond Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos, Works on display from April 18 to May 3 captures traditional symbols of power, deity and origination. Lawal succinctly harnesses the technique of embroidery and quilting to create tapestries of cultural and historical significance that explore traditionalism in contemporary Nigerian culture.

    The exhibition was, however, preceded by Meet the Artist, a preamble platform for group and solo exhibitions created by the foundation to introduce young and emerging artists to the public.

    Lawal researches and accumulates the ingredients of Yoruba folklore by intricately translating the figures of festival masquerades onto locally woven cloth, aso oke. These works create a visual time-line of folklore and customs while questioning the location of our indigenous identities. Lawal describes his tapestry work as ‘agbara asa’ which means “power of culture.” Lawal is a self-taught artist with origins in the fashion embroidery industry.

    He was born in 1979 and is from Ilorin, Kwara State. Lawal obtained a diploma in Cultural Administration from Nassarawa State University, Lafia, Nassarawa State (2011).

    Lawal trained as an apprentice embroiderer for six years shortly after completing his primary school education. He worked in the fashion industry with notable designers where he gained a fine understanding of textiles and quilting. Lawal’s recent work explores the indigenous customs and traditions of Nigeria’s diverse heritage and vanishing ideals in contemporary Nigerian society.

  • Fond memories of graffiti artist

    Fond memories of graffiti artist

    The recent screening of The Radiant Child, a 2010 documentary film, brought back fond memories of American artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It was held in Lagos by the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) as part of its inaugural edition of the AAF Art Salon.

    The film was based on the footage that director Tamra Davis took during her meeting with the artist in 1985, and the documentary includes interviews with people close to Basquiat from the time he discovered himself as a great graffiti artist till his death. The film also shows in details the way of life in New York City in the 80s citing how people got involved with music and arts.

    As a teenager, Basquiat ran away from home to fulfil his dreams and establish himself as a successful individual. He began as an obscure graffiti artist in New York City in the late 70s and evolved into an acclaimed Neo-expressionist and primitivist painter. But by the 80s, his works have had direct and immediate message while his rise to fame was discribed as a ‘hazard of sudden success and fame’

    Basquiat died on August 12, 1988 at 27 leaving behind 1,000 paintings and 1,000 drawings.

    In his short career, Basquiat became internationally celebrated for his graffiti, street art and crudely drawn canvases.

    Nigerian artist, Uche Uzorka whose work has often been compared to the legendary artist was at the presentation. Even if not directly influenced by Basquiat’s work, observers might note a similar radical neo-expressionist and contemporary urban cultural influence in Uzorka’s work.

    Uche presented his past projects and spoke on the art movement in Nigeria today, noting that he drew a lot before painting. He said Basquiat’s art was spontaneous and he expressed a high level of freedom.

    The AAF Art Salon is a platform for informal presentation, discussion, and debate of issues surrounding contemporary art practices in Nigeria. Taking place once a month, the AAF Art Salon will include film screenings, artist talks, portfolio reviews, and panel discussions, allowing artists and cultural practitioners to meet and exchange ideas.

    As a complementary project to AAF’s annual exhibition programme, the AAF Art Salon will act as a forum for community interaction and serve to enrich AAF’s ongoing public programming initiatives.

  • Italian artist on show

    An art exhibition by an Italian artist, Gigi Micheletti, featuring unique paintings on canvas with lots of innovative ideas that would inspire artists and art lovers opened at the Penthouse of DTV Building 7, Taslim Elias Close, Victoria Island Lagos, last Friday.

    The event was curated by Mrs. Mia El Khoury Comazzi, Gigi Micheletti’s representative. It was an opportunity for the art lovers and collectors to meet and exchange ideas.

    Mrs. Comazzi said the Capitan Fracassa, a painting on the invitation poster, which represents a swordsman, was inspired by a theatrical fencing. The canvas has been displayed in a renowned Lagosian restaurant and a guest reported that Captain Fracassa’s expression is similar to the one of Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver when, in front of the mirror, he mutters:” “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to me?”

    She said the event is to introduce Micheletti to the many famous Nigerian artists as well as to display his art works and his broad imagination he had put on canvas. “We expect a beautiful event with people who are into art and who appreciate it. He will be there to explain what each painting portrays, the messages behind them through its wide imaginative reasoning,” she affirmed.

    According to her, Micheletti, who grew up in Africa, is a well travelled artist with extensive imagination and his paintings have a combination of multicultural themes.

    Micheletti was born in Gattinara (province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy) on December 29, 1953 into a family with strong ties with Ghana, where he spent the first 10 years of his life. Lydia Stenzel, a talented water colored artist and family friend, encouraged him to draw, having discovered his artistic potential. Returning to Italy with his family, between 11 and 14 years, Gigi was under the tutelage of an art teacher, Maestro Edoardo Achino di Masserano (BI). Although he undertook a scientific course of study and later started working, he never stopped dedicating himself to art and music, and bound one to the other, with great enthusiasm and passion. He has been working in Nigeria for over thirty years and he keeps painting.