At Cultures, financial security meets art

By Tajudeen Sowole

 Support for art outside the regular patronage gets another boost as an ongoing group art exhibition sits at the heart of the corporate sector.

  Organised by Henrimoweta African Art Centre, the show titled Cultures, which opened few days ago and would run till Sunday, May 6, 2012 is mounted at the top floor of Marina Securities, Victoria Island, Lagos.

 Marina Securities is the stockbrokerage firm, which supports the art exhibition.

 Oyerinde Olotu, Ogaga Tundeinye, Bob Aiwerioba, Soji Yoloye, Henri Moweta, Yinka Fabayo, Ibrahim Jamiu, Nosa Osadolor, Toyin Omolowo are among the exhibiting artists. They are 20 altogether.

  Ahead of the opening, the director of the gallery and artist, Henri Moweta stated that the architectural design of the office complex attracted his attention, hence the decision to stage the show there. And during discussion with the owners of the complex, “I realised that art and financial securities have something in common.”

  The link between the artist and the financial managers, according to the CEO of Marina Securities, Jibola Odedina started more as curiosity to know about art, particularly, the attraction that makes people spend so much on collection. 

   One of the works, Royally by Yinka Fabayo

  He noted that as Marina Securities is all about financial advisory services through identification of investment opportunities “we thought that, perhaps, art could be an alternative investment.”
    He listed some of the areas of Marina Securities’ interests, which art may be of benefits as “facilitating activities in the capital market by serving as stockbrokers.”

  While he was not ready to drag his organization into the business of art brokerage, Odedina assured that the exhibition was just the beginning of Marina Securities’ prospective ventures into art, particularly getting their clients to invest in art.

  For the Head, Wealth Management of Marina Securities, Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede, the arts, though had been a familiar terrain, but “the success of this exhibition will determine our direction.”

  Aig- Imoukhuede argued that art has a role to play in financial securities and hoped that the partnership with the gallery would go a long way in getting to a meeting point for art and finance. He listed such areas as creation and preservation of wealth and asset allocation for maximum returns.

  Indeed, the top floor of the office complex where the show is mounted appears to be an ideal space for art exhibition. This much, visitors to the show stressed. However, the venue may not be available for so long, according to Odedina who disclosed that currently, it has a tenant.

  On the works and the curatorial efforts, it was a mixed of the good and the not so pleasant. In fact, some of the works were at odd with the architectural design of the space. However, works from artists such as Olotu, Fabayo, Moweta and just very few others complemented the space.

  (From left) Artist, Henri Moweta, Head Wealth Management of Marina Securities, Aigbovbioise Aig-Imoukhuede, Molade Okoya Thomas, Frank Aig-Imoukhuede and CEO, Jibola Odedina during the opening of the exhibition.

  On securities trading, Odedina stated that artists and collectors could take advantage of Marina Securities’ interest in art to benefit in such areas as stock exchange or trading over the counter in the stock market.

  The organization also stated: “As a licensed broker-dealer, Marina Securities, through our experienced dealers, is committed to assisting our discerning clientele in realising their dreams of being part owners of quoted companies. We employ our resources to guide and assist them in taking advantage of market opportunities through prompt execution of mandates and quick feedback on transactions.”