A
Walk Through the Art World
By Ukpong E. Ukpong
IT IS at the heart of everything that happens
at the Yar’Adua centre. Contemporary Nigerian
artists have set up an exhibition that gives expression
to the creative side of people.
Nigeria’s National Gallery of Arts has
helped them put up the show. |
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“The collection aims at showcasing the unique ensemble
of artistic expressions of creative ingenuity by Nigerians
for the common appreciation of the Commonwealth people,”
says Bridget A. C. Mundung, principal visual art officer at
the National Gallery of Arts, herself a ceramist by profession.
“The exhibition is intended to evaluate general appreciation
of the evolution of traditional Nigerian art to modern contemporary
Nigerian art through various book publications, journals and
works aimed at documenting the art trends in Nigeria,”
she says. “The exhibition is there to show to the Commonwealth
the richness in the depiction of life and activities in our
rural and urban communities.”
Sussan Omagu a painter and one of the exhibiting artists
lives in Abuja. “Taking part in the exhibition where
I have about six paintings on display makes this a brilliant
opportunity for Nigerian artists to tell the world and indeed
the visiting Commonwealth people that ours is the ‘real’
African art,” she says “It is also a medium for
expression of our thoughts and ideas in tune with the spirit
of the Commonwealth.”
She is quick to point out that in Nigeria the level of art
appreciation is low. “Therefore it is an opportunity
for myself and other colleagues to project the art of Nigeria
not just to Nigerians, but to the Commonwealth people,”
she says. “I was talking to someone this morning who
some years ago had thrown into the river a piece of art he
had received as a gift, because he thought it was worthless.
This exhibition therefore brings to fore a need for more avenues
like this to engender better appreciation of art and creativity.”
Foreign visitors here are “dazzled and tripped by the
expressive depth in style and rendition of these pieces, and
I am proud they are Nigerian,”she adds. The exhibition
has been widely appreciated by many of the delegates at the
Commonwealth People’s Forum.
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