Follow Us on Google
By Simeon Mpamugoh
Brace up for the big stampede as eighty-two legendary, grandmasters and emerging artists exhibit bespoke works in honour of one of Nigeria’s art patrons, late Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi. Apart from being dedicated to the art patron, the exhibition is also part of activities to mark Lagos@50 by the Society of Nigeria Artists, (SNA) Lagos State Chapter, and will kick off on October 28, 2017, at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos.
The art trail, which is tenth to be organised by the Society, in a recent press briefing held at the Aina Onabolu Building, National Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, inclines to eclectic, artistic rendition that redefines the diversifying creative and thematic contents of the Nigerian visual art space.
Deputy Chairperson SNA, Omoligho Udenta, noted that the traditional role of artists was to document what was happening, give perspectives of the situation and proffer solution if possible adding that this was found more in music than the visual art. She said that, owing to the economic challenges we found ourselves, most artists preferred to do works that sell than works that critique and document situations.
In an interactive session with arts journalists on the role of artists in a depressed environment, Udenta urged artists to ensure people know who they were, restating that every artist has a task to the society; to engages it in one or two ways that lift it adding that whether they chose to do so or not depends on the peculiar circumstances; whether economic or social.
She said that October Rain was momentous, adding that it was one of the editions the Society got high level of sponsorships and awareness from social and traditional media platforms.
A sculptor, Idowu Sonaya, observed that there had been quite a number of artists’ residence in Nigeria that participated in auction abroad. He said, “Art auction is not strange to Nigerian artists. We have privately organised auctions in the country and people are paying good money for their works. A young Nigerian artist, Njideka Akunyili recently sold her work for about $600,000, an indication that the works of our artists are appreciated abroad.”
On the exhibition, Chairman, exhibition team, Mr. Yusuf Durodola, said that the team arrived at works of artists for exhibition by engaging them in discussions on the histories of their art pieces and believe about art.
He said that October Rain has consistently captured and projected genuine creative efforts of the exhibiting artists while steering genuine interest of art lovers, collectors and patrons towards the regurgitation and retention of Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage.
He stated that plans were afoot to document works of the artists, pointing out that the catalogue numbering 200 pages, would feature contributory pieces of different backgrounds and perspectives from Mufu Onifade, Olu Ajayi, Dele Jegede and others who would X-ray processes of the work and how “we got works for the show.”
Durodola informed that the exhibition would equally feature different genre of works, from modern to the contemporary, as well as experimental art, adding that in the contemporary scene, Jelili Atiku and Odun Orimolade would be documenting performance art while in experimental art, he would power it.
“We also have conceptual works from performance; painting, drawing, mixed media, ceramics, textile, carton etc, and over 13 sculptural pieces would be on parade in this year’s exhibition some, of which are from legendary Bisi Fakeye and Bunmi Babatunde,” he informed.
Former Financial Secretary and exco member, SNA Kurt Tola Odunorin pledged that the name of Rasheed Gbadamosi would continue to echo in the visual art scene. The 8th day event will climax with the participation of the living legends of Nigerian art and grandmasters.
