Tag: National Gallery

A few weeks ago, the National Gallery of Art (NGA) under the leadership of Ahmed Sodangi as its Director General presented an update on the inventory that documented all the cultural properties in the custody of NGA. The programme was a handover ceremony where the German Cultural Centre (Goethe) was also involved. As it is now, all the artifacts, sculptures, paintings, and art pieces, within NGA have been fully documented for the sake of posterity. EDOZIE UDEZE reports on the issues involved.

The most interesting thing about Director General of the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Ahmed Sodangi, is that he is enthusiastic about his brief. Since he assumed the position of the DG of the National Gallery he has never left anyone in doubt that he has come to set the records straight. Not only that he understands clearly what it takes to keep the Gallery afloat, he is ever eager and committed to ensure that all the art pieces, artifacts, carvings, woodworks, paintings and all are kept up to date. This is one of the foremost reasons the Gallery was established.

Its primary responsibility is to preserve, update, collect and ensure that Nigeria’s modern and contemporary works of art are preserved for the sake of today and tomorrow. And so, Recently, Sodangi and his team in collaboration with the (German) Goethe Institut in Nigeria, where Nadine Siegert is in charge concluded the inventory of the art pieces within the custody of the Gallery. The event was colourful and well celebrated. It was an ample moment for Sodangi to display his warmest concerns for the preservation and record keeping of over one thousand art works in the armory of the National Gallery. In fact, the exercise is a continuous one.

Also present were representatives of Julius Berger, Centre for Black and African Art and Civilization (CBAAC), a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Culture, German Consulate in Lagos and more. As expected, the briefing was entirely on the real essence of the inventory and Goethe and others who were involved in the programme. Sodangi made it clear that National Gallery is indeed the repository of some of the most important and cherished arts of all times in Nigeria; some old, some not too old.

The works have been done over the years, some by well known artists otherwise known as the masters; some by unknown artists while some others by the younger and contemporary artists.

In it all, the inventory revealed that these works range from paintings, woodworks, sculptures, crafts, bronze works and more. It then means that the hall of fame is rich with quite a handful collection and it is the sole responsibility of the Gallery to see that they are all recorded and duly documented and preserved. Since this exercise has been successfully done, Sodangi considered it expedient to let the public know how rich the collections are. The collections are important to Nigeria as a nation and to the artists themselves who have been consistent over the years.

The responsibility of Goethe Institut was to let the inventory correspond with global standards. Goethe in itself is properly positioned all over the world to help institutions and nations promote, preserve and cherish cultures and cultural properties. And the German Consulate in Nigeria was therefore brought into the picture. Today it is clear that all the works are safe. And not only that, the Gallery is ever poised to collect and keep more modern and contemporary art pieces.

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Essentially, it is an on-going project, renewable and refreshed as time goes on. Julius Berger was brought in to assist in the area of erecting the necessary structure for the artworks. The structures have to be modern as storage facilities to keep the works safe from the vagaries of weather. Together therefore all the people and institutions involved in the inventory experiment are stakeholders in the art sector. As for CBAAC, the Director General, Aisha Augie also affirmed that she and her team are on the crest of organizing an inventory on CBAAC. She described CBAAC as the Centre in charge of artifacts and cultural relics that belong to all blacks both at home and in the Diaspora.

In his own opening remarks, Emeka Odiari, the director in charge of public relations of the Gallery described the documentary reports as a key insight into the foyers of the richness of the works in their custody. Odiari was painstaking in taking his time to zero people minds into the workings of the project and the handover. The handover was long incoming. However, Sodangi took his time to shoulder the total responsibility as the DG and all the credit goes to him.

The affairs of the national collection is key in knowing and appreciating how good Nigerian artists are both at home and on the global scene. Even though some of the works are not titled or dated, Sodangi in his wisdom decided to make sure that such works would still be given and accorded their proper places of prominence. For him, no work of art should be discarded or made to appear less valuable. As long as artists keep producing works, the Gallery will continue to procure or when and where necessary commission some artists to produce some works based on national interest or the like.

Interestingly, a small place has been erected within the premises of the Gallery at the National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, to preserve some of the art works. The cubicle is well preserved and some art works are already kept inside it as part of the urgency required in updating the records. It is clear that Sodangi has come to build and preserve. It is also crystal clear that his tenure is seeing to it that no art work within the purview of NGA is allowed to decay or deteriorate. And it is good that he has surrounded himself with those who understand the values of theses works and are prepared to help him succeed.

Already some concerned Nigerian artists like the veteran sculptor and ulli art expert Ndidi Dike have lent their voices to the project. Dike who was present on the day of the inventory presentation came as a guest artist. She was not just impressed; she showed full and committed interest in the way the project finally came to fruition. For her the inventory was good. She even said “this is part of what we need to keep our works ever fresh and relevant. NGA is doing the necessary thing and they need to be commended”

Dike is one of Nigeria’s foremost wood carvers, sculptors and researchers. Together with people like her NGA is on the right path and ever wired to go far henceforth.  

On May 27, National Gallery of Art (NGA), gathered children of different nursery, primary and secondary schools in Lagos to celebrate the Children’s Day. It was time also to showcase some of the children who participated in the art talent hunt in which some prizes and awards in visual arts were given. Cultural displays, dramas, dances, songs and all manner of artistic displays took place on that day. EDOZIE UDEZE reports.

Every May 27, the National Gallery of Art (NGA), gathers children from different schools in and around Lagos to celebrate the Children’s Day. Usually tagged children in art talent hunt, the purpose is to encourage children in nursery, primary and secondary schools, to express themselves in the areas of painting, drawing, sculpting and other aspects of the visual art. In most cases the children are also allowed to act, dance, sing and express themselves in other mediums and forms of cultural displays, including drumming, miming, fashion parade, hip hop and more.

This year, it was so colourful to see the children mount the stage in what has been described as the best Children’s Day celebration in a long time. The grooving was good. The children were excited, vibrant and active. With over thirty schools in attendance, the stage was set agog. When it was time for them to come out one after the other to dance and sing. But before the D Day, a visual art competition had been conducted and winners selected. Positions were allotted to the first schools and individuals that won first to third positions. Even though prizes and awards were given to them, the NGA in its usual wisdom placed the artworks inside the Aina Onabolu hall for public viewing. The works were indeed classical, more than what anyone could expect from children even as young as five to six years. Their sense of the interpretation of the theme-harmony in diversity; Art as a unifying force, showed how smart they have turned out to be.

It also showed how the efforts of NGA has consistently yielded positive results over the years. The children took the bulls by the horn. Their sense of colour appreciation and combination, landscaping and imagery and figurative displays can not be easily fathomed. But there the works were on the walls of the exhibition hall, depicting serious artistry, committed recourse to excellence. Inside the hall of the exhibition, colours, styles, forms, and ideas of different experiments welcomed guests. Most adult artists also shuddered with surprise on seeing how great all these children have turned out. And kudos must be given to their Art teachers who have taken the rigours to teach them and teach them well.

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You also needed to see the children sing, how they carried themselves with grace and pride on stage. When it was time to dance, their dance steps and movements became instantly electrifying. School after school showed dexterity on stage. They were indeed flexible. The songs were composed to suit the theme and appeal for unity. The children wore traditional costumes, some western, though, all signifying harmony and unity that have for long enveloped Nigeria. The level of smiles and glow and affection on their faces showed a generation in the threshold of love and cohesion.

It was really encouraging seeing how children could dance to the sounds of drums. Normally, it takes just an initiate to interpret the sounds and messages of the drums accurately. However, on that day the kid dancers did justice to the sounds. The drums pelted with total evocative percussive sounds. The sounds reverberated. They traveled into space. They provoked nuances. The children rose to the occasion. Those who did hip hop and rap and urban contemporary were frenzy in their displays.

At a stage the NGA arena turned into a carnival ground. The colourful decorations of the arena gave more room for people to appreciate the seriousness of the occasion. Some of the parents who came with their kids and wards were in jolly good moods especially those whose kids won prizes and awards. The beat went on and on well into the afternoon. Each school was mandated to do a different show which included choreography, cultural dance, drama, musical rendition, choral display, fashion parade, hip hop and more. All these came out good and the atmosphere was charged with varieties of shows that made the day truly a Children’s Day.

In his welcome speech the Director General of NGA Ahmed Sodangi commended the children for always coming out to display their best talents. Children, he reasoned, are the living proof of this incredible power. He said “when you create whether through drawing, singing, acting or any form of artistic expression, you are doing more than showcasing your individual talent. But also you are contributing to the collective voice that speaks of unity, friendship and understanding. In your art, we see the beautiful blend of cultures, perspectives and dreams. Each stroke of brush, every note of a song, each movement in dance, tells a story of a world where harmony, and mutual appreciation can flourish”.

In his own address, the curator Dr. Celestine Agoziem praised the NGA for his love for children. It is love that has survived many years un-end. He said, “why art? Simply put, art promotes cultural awareness, by exploring and celebrating different cultures. Through art children can also develop deeper understanding and appreciation of Nigeria’s diverse heritages. For faster empathy, art can be used to help children see things from other people’s perspectives, thereby encouraging empathy and compassion”.

For him, it was good the children were able to conform effectively within the ambiance of the theme that hoovered on harmony and unity. Unity of purpose in all spheres is what the children need now to forge love and togetherness.

In his remarks, father of the day, Professor Abolade Adeniji implored the children to be of good conduct. This, he reasoned would encourage their parents to invest more in them and then make them grow into greater children for the sake of tomorrow.

National Gallery of Art (NGA) is running an art exhibition titled Lovers’ Art Exhibition.  It is happening at the Aina Onabolu Gallery, Iganmu, Lagos, which is the headquarters of NGA. With a collection of over 60 works by different artists, the exhibition is on valentine and it will run till 28th of the month.  The idea of the title is to show how art can be used to espouse love and cement relationships across cultures.  The show opened on 14th February and Edozie Udeze was there.

THE National Gallery of Art (NGA) is usually quintessential in its organization of programmes.  There is this distinctiveness about its programmes that make it one of the foremost parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.  It is not only that the main office and where the major activities take place is located in Lagos.  But it is because the workers in Lagos are always conscious of their responsibilities to keep the National Gallery alive with activities that celebrate and eulogize the rich arts of Nigeria.  One of the mandates of the NGA is to ensure that the visual art pieces and properties of Nigerian artists are kept abreast.  So also in its collection of works in the national hall of fame, where Nigerian leaders of all hue most be kept for public viewing and preservation.

Owing to all these therefore, Dr. Celestine Agoziem, the newest curator of the NGA in Lagos office is working round the clock to maintain the status quo.  In order that this is totally observed, he and his able team put together an art exhibition titled Lovers’ Art Exhibition.  This opened officially on valentine’s day being February 14 at the Aina Onabolu Gallery, Iganmu, Lagos.  The opening ceremony was full of artistic razzmatazz during which visitors, guests, artists, art lovers and patrons were treated to doses of the beauties of Nigerian art.  African contemporary art cannot be complete until the total assemblage of Nigerian pieces of art works in all genres are recognized and celebrated.

This was why the beautiful Aina Onabolu hall had the best displays of art works, ranging from metal works, to wood carvings, paintings and so on.  With over sixty art pieces in all forms and styles, the hall was suffused with the beauty of contemporary art works.  Agoziem testified that it was done on purpose.  It was to bring out the richness of African arts as represented by Nigerian artists.  “This is why most of the works dwell on love”, Agoziem, the curator said. “Here love of families come in.  Love of individuals also come in.  Love of nature, love of landscapes, love of images in different styles and expressions also come in.  It is a total package and it is to celebrate this month that is dedicated to lovers.  Art itself is love”, he said, smiling.

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The group exhibition offered some studio artists, members of Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), teachers of Fine Arts and more, the opportunity to participate. This was why each artist was mandated to present only one work.  Indeed the works dwell essentially on the richness and brightness of colours.  Colours of yellow, red and black that express love in more verbose forms were more in use in the works.  As soon as you enter the hall, the bright colours arouse, arrest and hold you captive.  It is essentially to situate the place of bright colours in the issues of love, love that pierces the soul of man in more positive ways than one.  It was as if the colours were competing with one another.

To this end, Agoziem said “Yes, this exhibition as it is mounted was inspired by the spirit of February 14.  This inspiration to mount it is to help douse the tension in the land.  The tension in terms of insecurity, loss of lives on a daily basis and so on.  It is lovers’ day and therefore, it is proper to use this moment to draw attention to the beauty of art as an appendage of love.  Thank God there is a day like this recognised globally as a day of love.  And so, we chose to capitalize on this opportunity to express love via the art.  It is time for us to preach love, genuine love.  We deployed this pattern of using art as a form of expression because we know that art and love and culture are all related.  So, by the time we talk about love using art, we get a lot of people showing interest in more robust ways.  All lovers of art will immediately key in to be part of this lovers art exhibition here inside Aina Onabolu Gallery”.

Agoziem, an art historian is a keen observer of developments in the visual art circle.  As a doctorate degree holder in this academic area, his interest is broad and wide.  He said more: “The message here is clear and it is clearer when you use the medium of art to pass it across.  That is exactly what this exercise has come to represent.  Art here is expressive.  It expresses someone’s desire as you can see in one of the works here.  The art of love expressed in this medium is unmistakable.  It is clear that the type of love expressed here through this application of rich and bright colours is deeply rooted in love.  Art is life, indeed, and art can be visibly seen in the works that touch the heart”.

In order to ensure that the beauty of the exhibition was all encompassing, Agoziem and his team repainted the Aina Onabolu Gallery to give it a semblance  of contemporary look.  You cannot be talking about contemporary works in a hall of ancient outlook. The striking looks of the hall glittering in its beautiful outlook now shows that NGA is alive somewhat to its official responsibility.  Aina Onabolu exhibition hall is therefore wearing a new look, a contemporary look that befits a federal agency duly poised to take contemporary arts to new heights in 2025, and beyond.  All goes to show that those in charge in Lagos are aware of what aesthetic beauty does to physical structures.

For Agoziem art has to be constantly used to express hope and inspiration.  He noted this in one of the works where two kids were shown holding each other in a manner of affection.  “You see how one is holding the other? It is a show of love.  It shows that the children are fond of each other.  This is meant to promote love and we know that love promotes unity and unity promotes nation building.  There are three stages here.  Love promotes unity.  Unity promotes nation building.  The three go together in the love of art as a way of addressing the issues of love, unity, nation building and so on”.

Therefore the issue of nation building has to be predicated on pillars of love.  People have to discard undue sentiments of hatred and ethnicity to build love across cultures and other barriers.  “In this case, we have to play up more the things that keep us together as a people.  Love keeps us together, yes, it keeps us together and art is one of the most potent ways to achieve this”.

In the beginning, the artists were told what to do.  They were specifically instructed to build works on love, situate the themes around love, themes that make for soul searching within the ambience of love.  That is why most of the works have rich colours.  Colours of yellow, that symbolizes peace.  Red that lays emphasis on love and black that enhances equity.  “Yes, from the start we told the artists to bring works that solely dwell on love.  So, the works are emphatic on that theme.  They all depict love in different images and styles and forms and expressions.  Metal works by artists who love total expression are also on display”.

In all, artists who participated came mainly from private studios.  Most of them are members of SNA in different categories.  Some are even unknown artists almost rearing to go.  They have beautiful works that can go places.  Lecturers from different higher institutions were also involved.  Some artists who work with NGA have their works equally mounted.  The exhibition will run till 28 day of this month of February and it is an opportunity for more people to go and view and patronize arts of love in its greatest and highest epitome and expression.  In all, kudos must go to the organizers of this beautiful show that makes art come nearer to the people and offering 60 artists the opportunity to be shown to the world.

Emeka Odiari is the Director in charge of media with the National Gallery of Art (NGA). NGA is a parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy. In this interview with Edozie Udeze, he enumerates some of the programmes the Ahmed Bashir Sodangi administration has lined up for revival. He also states why NGA is ever ready to work in partnership with all stakeholders, home and abroad, to keep the parastatal ever active and alive.

Emeka Odiari heads the media department of National Gallery of Arts. Just relocated from Lagos to Abuja, Odiari is up to the task, detailing all the programmes the Sodangi administration has in stock for the people. He says, “some of achievements of Bashir Sodangi’s as the Director General of National Gallery of Art in the past one year includes the following.

He restructured and repositioned the departments for better service delivery in line with ministerial deliverables and presidential mandate.

He brought sanity and peaceful relationships amongst workers. He has done much to encourage the members of staff to face their work more vigorously both in Abuja and in Lagos office.

He was also involved in training staff training and retraining. This also improved under his administration in spite of the meagre allocation. Departments were encouraged to conduct in-house trainings for their staff.

In terms of staff welfare. Sodangi has done very well in this regard, he has been able to start payments of staff outstanding claims and allowances some of which were in arrears of over ten yrs.

He also refurbished and continued maintaining staff busses which bring staff to work on daily basis, this is a great relief considering the humongous cost of transportation. He also successfully conducted staff promotion exams which were overdue since Jan 2023, this has made staff start enjoying their new salary regime. He has also taken time to visit almost a the outstations to meet with staff and share in their challenging, this has also motivated staff and improved their productivity as they now work with a more caring leader.

The National Gallery programmes under Sodangi have been revived and repackaged for better impact. Saturday Art Club, which is a major programme of the Gallery designed to discover young budding talents from primary and secondary schools across the 25 outstations have received financial boosts, more children and schools are now participating in the programme. It’s almost looking like competition among the outstations to see who outshines the other, this is because of the incentives from DG.

In the area of partnerships and collaborations he has passionately continued to pursue this are of his duty, signing memorandum of understanding’ with reputable art institutions and groups like Female Artists Association Nigeria (FEAAN), International Institute for Creative Development (IICD). More of such MOU’s would be signed soon. He has also Partnered with Embassies like the Spanish, French Egyptian, Czech Republic on Programmes to promote the visual art. He has also interfaced with various Art groups like the Society of Nigerian Artists. Today, NGA enjoys very cordial relationships with stakeholders. This partnership is also replicated with the Ministry and other sister parastatals.

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He has also reviewed the act establishing NGA. This is one area which is at the frontburner of Sodangi as the DG. He is working hard with all relevant stakeholders including the National Assembly Committees on Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy towards ensuring this is achieved in no distant Time.

The Gallery has been resolute in pursuing this dream which is very passionate to the growth of the gallery. Again, the gallery has been lobbying and discussing with everybody that matters towards making this dream a reality.  The National Gallery has been consistent in its policies to meet the needs of artists and others who have professional relationship with the gallery. The welfare of artists is always uppermost in the everyday programme of the gallery and as a director Sodangi’s administration is conscious of this.

He has also improved relationship with Artists through the setting up of internet platforms to document, exhibit and sell their works locally and internationally.

Bashir Ahmed Sodangi is determined to ensure that all programmes of the Gallery, including new ones being created are carried out this year. From our national exhibitions, stakeholders forum, annual distinguished lectures, art-of- friendship,  children-inart talent hunt and exhibition, Saturday art club, and others. Have been lined up for this year.

Aside the comprehensive coverage of all NGA programmes, the media department will also undertake Press parley/briefings, mast awards.

Station and facility visits among others. All these will help to pep up the image of the gallery for better service to the nation and to the artists.

Furthermore, the NGA is passionate about children’s art. This is demonstrated by programmes like the Saturday art club, children-in-art exhibition, and others. These programmes are strictly designed and created to identify with children in primary and secondary schools who can demonstrate clear talent in the art.

The relationship between Nigerian artists and the gallery is very cordial. As a parastatal of the federal ministry of culture, the NGA understands the place of the stakeholders. And this includes artists and they are happy with the level of conviviality the parties enjoy.

We also hope to refurbish and repaint and renovate the Aina Onabolu building. We have always regarded it as our best building in Lagos and we have regards for Aina Onabolu, one of Nigeria’s greatest masters of the visual art. Onabolu was a great man and that is why the building is dedicated to him as a mark of respect and recognition.