Last month, a one-week group art exhibition featuring 108 selected artworks in different mediums reaffirmed the zeal and commitment of Lagos region young artists to the annual Life in My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF). With the theme Humanism, the exhibition, which was held at Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, between June 12 and 22 was part of the regional exhibitions held across the country as prelude to the grand finale in Enugu later in the year. As usual, the creative works of the emerging artists from the region, did not fail to arouse curiosity of many collectors and enthusiasts present at the opening. And the quality of the collection speaks volume of the standard the festival organisers have set for the emerging Nigerian artists in the past 17 years.
Like last year, this year’s outing attracted top flight guests such as the Chairman of Access Bank Plc, Mr Paul Usoro who declared the exhibition open. Also at the event was LIMCAF Executive Director, Mr. Kevin Ejiofor among other dignitaries. The festival established in 2007 as an annual celebration of creativity, has evolved to be Nigeria’s largest youth art event that hosts visual art competitions for artists under 35. Other guests present included Chairman Orpheus Group Mr David Nwamara, Director MTN Foundation, Mr Dennis Okoro and Programme Officer Pyramid Art Centre, Mr Odebiyi Jemika.
Out of the 108 artworks on display, the local jury is expected to select the best works for the one-week grand finale exhibition, which opens in Enugu from the 19th to 26th October.
The Lagos exhibition marked the beginning of the 2nd round of LIMCAF’s annual national art competition for aspiring young artists under 35 years of age. Regional exhibitions will take place in 12 other regional centres across the country, including, Abuja, Jos, Jalingo, Zaria, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ondo, Benin, Port Harcourt, Uyo and Enugu. The First round was the period of the reception, collation analysis and sorting of the 637 entries according to the current 13 regions of LIMCAF from which they were submitted.
In this second-round local jury panels in all regional centres are constituted to view the curated artworks physically and select the best works from in each centre to join the Top 100 finalists of 2024. The local jury for Lagos includes Okechuwu Eze, Adetiloye Jekanmi Ayoola Omovo and Jeff Ajueshi.
The all-white walls of Thought Pyramid Art Centre provided suitable ambience for the display and appreciation of the collection, which straddles realism, semi abstract, abstract, impressionism and figurative. But, central to these styles irrespective of medium, is humanity, the theme of this year’s competition. Beyond images, humanity as a theme can be found in the titles of most works such as Helping hands, See no evil, Heal the world, Celebration of humanity, Humanism, God is in one of us and Empathy.
Yet, there were works that address the state of the nation’s economy, human creation, cultural heritage, unity, spirituality, environment and nature. The diversity of the works and the vibrancy of colours enrich the collection.
Adelakan Fortune Oladimeji’s Our World, (mixed media 3x4ft) shows the inter-connectivity of the globe where far-flung communities are linked with the aid of internet services of today. At the centre of the piece, is a painting of sea of heads that depicts the growing population of the world who participate in the networking.
But Emmanuel Eweje’s Remembering the poor, (thread on canvas, 24×30) speaks to the need for empathy among people irrespective of status. The artwork emphasizes support for the poor and vulnerable as a strong pillar upon which humanism rests. As shown in the work, the toddler’s countenance changes as he was being assisted with a water bottle by a young man who stoop low to his level.
Hassan Jamiu Olamilekan took the viewers on memory lane with his Sorrow, tears and blood, a mixed media painting on canvas that captures an Army officer decked in camouflage carrying a radio set on his shoulder. It also shows an unusual type and size of head gear of the officer that runs like a spiral dread. The red background reflects the sorrow, tears and blood that are common place during military rule. Interestingly, the officer bears the name unknown soldier, a common phrase used by Obasanjo administration when Fela Ransome Kuti’s Kalakuta Republic was razed in 1977 by some unidentified soldiers. Other works on display included Portrait of pollinator, True life story, Sober reflection, Clamour for secession, Agape, Our biography, Seed of promise and The cycle.
Chairman of the event, Usoro, a first timer to the centre expressed satisfaction with the quality of the works on display, adding that ‘I am more impressed seeing these young artists making impact in art. I was not born a chairman of Access bank, I grew up to be what I am. If you strive and work harder, you will make it. With hard work and luck you get to the top fast. If you work hard and strive, you will get there.’
