With art stampede, CORA boosts Onobrakpeya’s 80th celebration

Despite plans by organisers to mark the 80th birthday of master printmaker, Bruce Onibekepaya on a modest note, it appears that there would be carnival-like events starting from tomorrow

THE events start with an art exhibition titled 50 years of Bruce Onobrakpeya: Window into His Art, opening tomorrow at Nike Art Gallery, Lekki. Curators are Nike Okundaye, Sam Ovraiti and Bode Olaniran.

Also, the Committee for Relevant Art (CORA)’s Art Stampede for the master printmaker titled From Brochure To Books, Emerging Trends in Visual Art Documentation, holds on August 26, at Kongi's Harvest, Freedom Park, Lagos Island. 

The exhibition, according to the organisers, features installation from various periods of Onobrakpeya’s 50 years career. 

“Each of these segments represents specific periods in the celebrant’s studio practice, which spans a period of over 50 years,” the statement said.

Young Bruce Onobrakpeya, in his studio, 1963

And on Tuesday, 27, a lecture and seminar holds at Nike Gallery will feature international and local speakers on Nigerian Modern Art. The Seminar on Art will explore the topic: Art, The Nigerian Question: Placing Nigerian Art in the Mosaic of History. This lecture, apart from exploring the evolution of modern Nigerian art and the influence of pan-Nigerian cultures, will also attempt to place its contributions on a global platform.

Distinguished panelist and speakers will include Ms. Janet Stanley of the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., Prof. Perkins Foss from U.S., and Elizabeth Court from the U.K. 

Art historians and observers will include Prof. G. G.  Darah, Prof. Frank Ogiomoh, Mr. Odia Ofeimu, and Ms. Sereba Agiobu-Kemmer will bring a Nigerian and West African perspective to this debate.

The event is being supported by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) and Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA).