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Tag: LIMCAF

  • LIMCAF flags off at Abuja

    LIMCAF flags off at Abuja

    The zonal screening and exhibition of artworks for the yearly Life In My City Festival has begun with an exhibition held at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Wuse 2, Abuja.

    The theme of this year’s festival is Beyond all odds. The 10 collection centres are expected to display their best entries. The festival, which enters its ninth edition, is to promote artistic creativity and professionalism among young and talented Nigerian artists.

    Cultural Programme Officer, Institut Français du Nigeria, Alice O’Reilly said the festival has been driven mainly by passion for arts by Chief Robert Oji since 2006.

    ‘This year sees the 9th edition of what has become the most consistent and most expressive art festival in Nigeria. This constant high performance has been made possible because of people such as Elder Kalu U Kalu and Kelvin Ojiofor who involved thousands of people in their dream and whose passion for visual arts has few bounds.  And this passion has driven the whole board, the organising committee, the jury panel as well as all the people involved in this nation-wide project. They also had the very strong support of the Alliance française in Enugu which has actively participated in the organisation of the festival from the very first day,’  she said.

    According to her, the concept of LIMCAF is simple, unifying and it has extended to all over the country through the support of the French cultural network formed by the Institut Français du Nigeria in Abuja and the 10 Alliances Françaises spread around the country. ‘And it wouldn’t have been the same without the support of many generous private sponsors as well as the Embassy of France in Nigeria,’ she added. LIMCAF has been growing every year. As a proof of the vitality of young Nigerian artists, there are more participants every year and the standard gets higher.

     

  • How LIMCAF lifted mother of two

    How LIMCAF lifted mother of two

    MRS Omeje Ngozi Appolonsa  would not forget this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF) in a hurry. She was the last female contestant standing and winner of N500,000 cash prize.

    Throughout the final day of LIMCAF, which held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu, her eyes were fixed on the screen, watching which work would emerge winner. And suddenly, Placenta, her installation piece, came on screen, emerging the best overall work at the competition.

    The mother of two, who is also an art teacher at Nsukka, Enugu State, was full of thanks to God for the award. “God is faithful. I emerged runner up in 2011 and here I am the overall best winner. This year’s feat was the result of the constant push from my husband. The work was inspired by what I experienced during scanning while I was pregnant. What I saw in the scan was the beginning of my conception of the art work,” she recalled with ecstasy.

    Filled with joy, Omeje added: “They are doing good job because I am happy today and I think someone else will work hard so that he/she will win next time.” Her husband and the two children who were in the hall were not left out in the celebration as they rushed to the podium to hug the winner who was all in smile.

    The other winners included Brenda Emmanuel Chinonso (Best Painting/Mixed Media/drawing), Mgbeahuru Chiemela Peter (Best Photography/Multimedia/Video), Okonkwo Onyedika Peter (Best Graphics/Textile) who got 250,000 naira each.

    The grand finale of the festival attracted frontline arts patrons such as Nnaemeka Achebe, Agbogidi, the Obi of Onitsha and representative of Diamond Bank PLc, Monsieur Jacques Montourcy, representative of the French Ambassador to Nigeria, former Chairman, Union Bank Plc, Elder Kalu Uke Kalu and wife, founder of LIMCAF, Chief Robert Orji among others.

    Chairman of the occasion, Nnaemeka Achebe said it is heart- warming that the festival which debuted eight years ago is getting better every year and that it has extended to eleven states of the federation including Lagos. He noted that the foresight of the initiator is paying off adding that in contemporary time, Nigerian arts is asserting itself in the globe. “Particularly, in visual art, Nigeria is growing well with notable Nigerian artists as curators of world biennales. Basel biennale has George Edozie on its list and the theme is on Africa. We have a duty to appreciate what young artists and LIMCAF are doing. In 2000 years from now, people will remember that there was LIMCAF,” he added.

    Elder Kalu said that the festival has remained consistent till date since eight years ago means that the labour of ‘our sponsors and supporters these past years have not been in vain.’

    Nmazili said Diamond Bank is pleased to associate with the festival and Nigerian arts. “With proper supports, the artists can measure up with their peers in other parts of the globe,” she added.

    Leader of the five-man jury, Dr Kunle Filani stated that LIMCAF has become the most consistent, the most encompassing and perhaps the most expressive art organisation in Nigeria. “LIMCAF promotes artistic creativity and professionalism among young and burgeoning Nigerian artists. It develops conceptual articulation of the contestants and sensitizes them to generate artistic images that resonates the physical, social and political ambience of their environment. The legacy of LIMCAF Board of Trustees, the organising committee and the various committed sponsors is forever immeasurable,” he noted.  Other members of the jury were Dr. George Odoh, Dr Helen Uhunmwagho, Jacques Montourcy and Dr Ken Okoli.

    The jury’s time-tested assessment criteria include formal qualities, thematic interpretation, conceptual depth and material/ technical proficiency. According to the jury, it is quite rewarding to observe the good quality and high standard of the selected 113 artworks ranging from drawings, paintings, ceramics, graphics, sculptures, textiles, mixed media, photography and new-media such as video.

    “The creativity of the younger generation of Nigerian artists has been tested, and again, they have demonstrated they are capable of robust conceptualisation, novel material transmutation and unique and modern stylistic tendencies.

    Difficult as it was to finally select the overall winner due to the numerous outstanding works presented by the artists, a consensus was however reached by the jurors. This was based on the formal virtuosity, conceptual superiority and the possession of consummate skills by the artist who produced the masterly piece.

    “In the hands of this artist, ordinary materials were succinctly and technically manipulated to conjure images of memorable visage. Thematic articulation coupled with formal supremacy of the artist generates infinite illusions in the eyes of the viewers. The art piece is delicate but has a compelling inclusiveness of the audience. The jury is convinced that the artist is indeed outstanding. The winners of other prizes equally displayed in depth creative possibilities with their entries,” the jury said.

    Coordinator of the CLAM workshop and France-based Nigerian artist, Mr Andy Amadi Okoroafor said he decided to be part of the festival because it was time to give back to his roots as he has been working around the globe for long.  “I have done so much outside. If I change one person at home, I will be fulfilled. The workshop is top share knowledge, inspire and create platform for LIMCAF to expand its scope. And part of my duties will include to create an on-line magazine for the festival as well as to make impact in Enugu in area of arts.” Okoroafor said.

    The grand finale was not all about speeches and awards as African Voices led by Vincent Odo, Sopolu and his guitar thrilled the guests to exciting performances. The festival also featured CLAM workshop/exhibition, Photo Africa exhibition held at the Alliance Franciase and National Gallery of Art, Enugu.

    Others winners were Ezennia Onyinye M. (Justice Aniagolu Prize for Originality), Afegbua Ibrahim (CCA Lagos Prize for Best Lagos Entry), Essang Etim Effiong (Mfon Usoro Prize for the Best Entry Uyo/Calabar Entry), Candidus Onyishi (Enugu State Council for Art and Culture Prize) got one hundred thousand naira each while Onadipe Olumide Luke (Art Is Everywhere Prize) and Ideyi Nzubechi (Vin Martin Ilo Prize for the Best Enugu Entry) won fifty thousand naira each. Fifteen others were given consolation prizes of twenty thousand naira each.

  • Filani heads Limcaf 2014 grand finale jury

    Renowned Nigerian scholar and artist Dr. Kunle Filani has been selected by the Board of the Life In My City Art Festival to head the committee of jurors for this year’s Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF).

    Other members include Dr. Ken Okoli, lecturer at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Dr. Helen. Uhunmwagho, Dean of the School of Art and Design, Federal Polytechnic Auchi,  Dr. George Odo of the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria Nsukka and  Monsieur Jacques Montourcy of the Cultural arm of the Embassy of France in Nigeria.

    According to the Art Director of the festival Mr. Ayo Adewunmi, this is the second time in the history of the festival that the names of the jurors are being made public in advance as the Organising Committee believes that the integrity of the Festival’s processes is now secure and public confidence has been sufficiently established.

    The task of the committee is to select the top 25 works whose owners will be invited to Enugu to be part of the grand finale exhibition and the award night ceremonies.

    Adewumi stated that unlike previous years, the venue of the grand finale exhibition which opened on Monday was b at the exhibition hall of the Nigerian Gallery of Art, Enugu and not the Nike Lake Resort Hotel. “At the end of the exhibition, the top 25 works will be moved to the Nike Lake Resort Hotel, for the award night ceremony,” he added.

    He noted that this will impose extra strains on the committee members who will review some 130 finalists from the eleven zones of LIMCAF. He said that as always, the members will be under virtual quarantine from the moment they arrive Enugu on Thursday October 23 until they produce the winners and report to the audience on award night on October 25.

    “Our aim is to ensure that they work in serene concentration and high confidentiality throughout the judging process” Mr Adewunmi said. “My happiness is that from what I have seen, the committee will find that their period of confinement will be exciting and worthwhile even if strenuous, considering the great variety and high quality of entries from young people across Nigeria.”

    Filani who has been teaching art at the tertiary level since 1985 is currently an adjunct lecturer at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. A former Provost and Chief Executive of the Federal College of Education Osiele, Abeokuta he was a pioneering member of the Ona movement, which art genre he has helped to ensure its place in contemporary history. Filani initiated the “Best of Ife” exhibition series and is the president of Culture and Creative Arts Forum (CCAF) and a Fellow of the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) among others. Photo Africa exhibition and the Clam exhibition will open tomorrow Thursday, October 23 while the Clam Multimedia Workshop holds on Friday October 24.

  • Onitsha monarch is art patron

    Onitsha monarch is art patron

    The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has been made patron of the Life In My City Art Initiative. He was presented a plaque to mark the honour.

    Chairman, Life In My City Art Festival (LIMCAF), Dr Kalu Uke Kalu, said it was a thing of joy to confer the LIMCAF’s patronship on the monarch.

    Kalu said the festival was set up to promote art pan- Nigeria through  the yearly competition that offers people below 30   opportunity to commercialise their art works, win prizes and interact with others on a national and international platform. The festival will hold on October 25 in Enugu.

    Responding to the  award, the Obi of Onitsha, praised the efforts of LIMCAF founder, Chief Robert Orji (Rocana) and its other administrators, saying the arts festival, which was established eight years ago, was contributing to the restoration of Enugu as the regional cultural centre for the Southeast of Nigeria. He expressed commitment towards making LIMCAF an international art event that will bring Nigerians together under the umbrella of visual arts and Enugu State, a major arts destination.

    He added that the visual art exhibition which will include foreign artists will henceforth become a permanent feature of his yearly Ofala festival in Onitsha beginning with this year’s edition billed for October 11 and 12.

    He said: “My instant decision to support the LIMCAF was my duty and pleasure. As a royal father, I consider it a duty to support all laudable initiatives that can edify the human spirit and nature. I also have a deep passion for arts and not withstanding my many other commitments. I will do my best to remain part of this noble initiative.”

    Plans are afoot to build a museum/cultural centre, which will be the repository of his modest art collection and royal paraphernalia for the enjoyment of the public, the royal father added.

  • How Fragment of Unity won LIMCAF top prize

    How Fragment of Unity won LIMCAF top prize

    After a series of screenings at 12 zonal centres across the country, picking the prize-winning entries from 123 works showcased at the Life In My City Art Festival’s award night in Enugu was a daunting task for the jury. However, eight artists got the winning prizes ranging betwen N500,000 and N50,000 while 12 others got the consolation prize of N20, 000 each.

    The seven-man jury led by Prof Chike Aniakor said selecting the winners of the various prizes was a difficult decision in some cases.

    According to the jury, based on the theme of the festival, Out of the frame, out of the box, its mandate was to select 25 outstanding works from a total of 123 that engaged with the theme and made it to the grand finale from the various zonal finals held in Enugu, Lagos, Calabar, Auchi, Kaduna, Abuja, Ibadan and Port Harcourt. From this number, an overall winner was to emerge, along with the best in the categories of painting/mixed-media/drawing, sculpture/installation /ceramics, photography/multimedia and textile/graphics. There were also two sponsored prizes to be determined by the jury at the grand finale. These were the Justice Anthony Aniagolu prize for originality and the Art is everywhere prize for best waste–to-art piece. The remaining works from the shortlist of 25 were to be awarded consolation prizes.

    In its final report, the jury said: “The judges had a difficult task short listing 25 works and determining the prize winner from the whole lot. To arrive at a fairly accurate judgment their work was carried out in three stages. in the first stages, each of the seven judges had the liberty to critically study all the works on display and select up to 25 pieces based primarily on the artist originality of thought, creative handling of materials /media and conceptual engagement with the theme, out of the box. The judges compared note from each person shortlist and found that they had 27 most re occurring pieces. They returned as a group to the exhibition ground and pruned the shortlist to 25 through a long critical discussion. “In the second stage, members of the jury shortlisted their best four works out of the 25. From these, 10 works emerged as possible prize winner. The third and fin al stage involved critique session on al 10 works, one after the other. Based on the group discussion, the jury finally arrived at a consensus position on the overall prize winner, the category prize winner and the sponsored prize winner.

    “Fragment of unity, an oil on canvas painting by Osaretin Eghosa Henry, emerged as the jury’s overall best based on its towering sardonic wit. Presented in a rectangular format, Osarenti’s fragment of unity depicts a roundtable conference in which a bespectacled dog spotting an Ijaw cap sits at the center, flanked on a both sides by a variety of mainly domestic animals, rodent, insects and birds. A mysterious source of light illuminates the picture at the centre. With table cloth drawn half way backwards, there comes a revelation not only of the identity of each of the creatures surrounding the table but also those but also those huddling under and around the table. Some of the animals are adorned in caps or in headgears representative of the major Nigeria ethnic groups. The Nigerian flag by the right of the chairman (or chair animal?) and what looks like the flag of the United Nations by its left appear to lean like an animal horn on a cracked wall behind,with further iconic to fallen or fallen seats, branded press microphones, dramatic lightning and lines of sight from the surrounding animals to the central figure sited on an unroyal throne, jury found layer of meaning in Osaretin’s painting that keeps unfolding as one contemplates the piece. Created before the Nigerian president ‘s announcement of its government willingness to convene a national conference our young artist appear to come through as a visionary, offering us a layering of insight into what the conference is likely going to be.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “Fragment of unity was chosen not only because the young artist engaged with a relevant social theme in an out of the box manner but also because of his ability to manipulate a traditional medium in ways that has enabled him achieve his goal. In this piece is found an allegorical creative representation of a Nigeria political and social situation rendered using a conceptual strategy that seems to appropriate the contextual import of George Orwell’s Animal farm. This conceptual approach realised is unusual with young Nigerian artist and represent a refreshingly new departure that confers on Osaretin’s work a memorable piece worthy of the grand prize.”

  • Life In My City creates Lagos zone

    The yearlyLife In My City Arts Festival (LIMCAF), which holds in Enugu, has created a zonal centre of the national youth art competition for Lagos. Also, there will be a special Lagos zonal exhibition of the best entries from Lagos area at a venue to be announced later.

    This was announced at a brief meeting of the festival’s friends and stakeholders including art editors, artists, photographers and officials at the Alliance Francaise Centre in Yaba, Lagos recently.

    The Artistic Director of the festival, Mr Ayo Adewunmi, said that the organisers had since recognised that Lagos as art capital of the nation must be given the pride of place it deserved in the festival which had not been possible before now. This, he said, is as a result of logistic challenges in Alliance Francaise in Lagos.

    He disclosed that Alliance Francaise Nigeria provides the logistic framework for the festival and has been doing this since the inception of the festival in 2007.

    Mr. Adewunmi explained that a situation whereby entries by artists in Lagos had to be taken to Ibadan for adjudication and exhibition was detrimental to the growth of the festival.

    He expressed gratitude to the Director, Alliance Francaise, Lagos, who is also Delegate General of the Alliance Francaise network in Nigeria Madam Christine Deuve for making the new arrangement possible. The theme for this year’s competition according to Mr. Adewunmi is ‘Out of the Frame/Out of the Box’ which gives the young people much more room than in the past to express themselves. He also announced the 1st of July as the deadline for entries this year.

    Life In My City was founded in Enugu in 2006 by Chief Executive of Rocana Nigeria, Chief Robert Oji. The first edition of the festival was held in 2007. LIMCAF was founded to contribute significantly to the economic empowerment of the youth through art and also to provide opportunity for young people to make meaningful statements on issues of significance within their living environment. Ultimately the organisers hope to establish a thriving art international tourism destination in Enugu to compliment current efforts in this regard in Lagos and Abuja.