An ongoing art exhibition tagged the masters series is showcasing works of Nigeria’s foremost visual artists, reports Edozie Udeze
Imagination is a very powerful tool that brings more thoughts from obscurity to reality. With imagination, therefore, the minds of people are capable of conjuring the unimaginable while its realisation brings an exhumation of physical translation. This, indeed, aptly demonstrates the artistic function embedded in the end result of every creative works.” This was how Abdullahi Muku, the Director General of The National Gallery of Art ((NGA), described the Masters Series Exhibition currently holding at the Red Door Gallery, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The exhibition is an understanding between NGA and Red Door Gallery to sensitise the public on the importance of Nigeria’s many masters of the visual art; those whose works have been in the custody of NGA for many years. The works cut across all genres of the visual art and also embody the best anyone can get to see about Nigeria’s crops of works by both the first and second generations of painters, sculptors, print-makers, woodcarvers, etc. This shows that the richness of Nigerian art is an all-important documentation of many spheres and history of the nation.
This is evident in the works of Nigeria’s all-time greats as they dwell exclusively on the rich, deep and colourful heritage deserving of communal celebrations, rural landscapes, geography, history and all aspects of the Nigerian entity. The artists have been able to bring all these to the fore in the past 10 decades or so.
During the opening ceremony penultimate week, art lovers, collectors, patrons and art enthusiasts gathered in their numbers to savour the richness of these works. Many people were particularly touched to see the beautiful works of such great artists as Ben Enwonwu, Erhabor Emokpae, Akinola Lasekan, Ben Osawe, Solomon Wangboje. Others are Obiora Udechukwu, Yusuf Grillo, Odita Okechukwu, Jimoh Buraimoh, Josy Ajiboye, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Abayomi Barber, El Anatsui and many others.
These artists are classified as masters considering their consistent contributions to the visual art profession in the past four to five decades. Through their works they have been able to display consummate skills and professionalism. And to date, these works serve as models for the next generation of artists in the country. There is hardly any of these works that cannot command immediate attention anywhere they are displayed.
This was why Bola Asiru of Red Door Gallery described the scenario simply as “the celebration of beautiful works by a sample of African contemporary artists that have stood the test of time and now influence and inspire artists and art lovers globally. Indeed, there are hundreds of masters across the African continent but we are constrained to exhibit just a few in this series. Today, we have cause to celebrate those things which are truly African as our art has become globally, recognised and appreciated as a reference point for creativity and excellence,” he said.
Muku, on the other, hand stressed the need for more private galleries to show interest in the ongoing federal government policy to engage more art lovers in its Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme. “Yes, this is one of the series we’ve embarked upon to ensure that the necessary awareness is created for the art. This was why we particularly picked the works of those great artists Nigerians seem to have forgotten. As it is now, Red Door Gallery, will equally continue with the works of other great artists after this. This is why it is called Masters Series exhibition. And we hope other galleries in other parts of the country will also show interest so that we can basically raise the awareness level of the visual art in Nigeria.”
Reminded that it was only the painting of General Yakubu Gowon as a former head of state that was on display, he responded thus: “It doesn’t mean that Gowon is the only head of the state whose painting is in our custody. Like I said earlier, this is a series and you know this gallery is not wide enough to contain everything at the same time. Therefore, in the subsequent ones, we will have other former heads of state on display. We have plenty of other works that dwell on national history in our collection. However, when the exhibition is over, the works will be returned to the NGA. We also wish to make it a travel exhibition if Red Door can get sponsors to do it.”
Muku, who believes that with the necessary awareness and enlightenment, Nigerian art can go places, explained that the attention of NGA is not only concentrated on the production or exhibition of the masters. To him, the younger generation of Nigerian artists have not only been proving their mettle, they are ever eager to go places. “Yes, they’ve been doing well in the field of art both locally and internationally. Some of them have works that have competed favourably across the shores of this land. Gradually, attention will shift to them, but for now, Red Door wishes to start with those we’ve tagged the masters.”
He, however, made it clear that NGA is committed to the promotion and preservation of visual art in Nigeria. “We want to continually ensure that this sector is ever kept alive. Like we’ve been saying severally that, as a country, we’ve been going through a micro-economy. We are trying to see how art can be of help to boost the economy. We believe also that there is so much wealth in the art. It is left for us to continue to encourage and tap the resources for the economic wellbeing of the society. We also believe that there is enough market in the country for the art. Again, we hope to open up more market opportunities so that artists themselves can have plenty of arena to sell and market what they have.”
Some of the remarkable works on display include: Mother and child, Yemoja, Hide, Anyanwu, Negritude, Favourite team, Olokun Shrine. Others are Fulani shepered boy with flute, Market scene, Awana, Njikoka panel, Man of the people, Academician and many others.
The exhibitions will be on for one month to enable more people to view and appreciate these works.
