Although Experience Nigeria is the oldest yearly art competition and exhibition event in the country, but as it is currently preparing for its 22nd edition, the organisers hope to expand its scope..
For its 2013 edition
tagged Splashes of Nigeria… Shades of things To Come, late renowned
artist, Gani Odutokun gets posthumour recognition. Organised by African
Art Resource Centre {AARC}, Experience Nigeria is expanding its scope by
taking it to Abuja. The organisers’ decision to move it from Lagos where it has
been held since 1991 may just be the change required to get a broader attention,
the director and founder, Oladele Olaopa stated.
Scheduled to hold in
November at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, FCT, Abuja, the event, according to Olaopa
is taking off now to avail interested artists submit their works early enough
for jury. Also, the long duration of preparation, he added, affords potential
corporate sponsors and supporters of Experience Nigeria 2013 an
opportunity to make input into the success of the event.
Thematically, the 2013
edition, Olaopa disclosed, is geared towards “encouraging optimism among
Nigerians”. He noted that at this period of Nigeria’s economic and political
challenges, art should be used to the difference by continuing to play the role
of a medium “for social changes and understanding between government and the people”.
An estimated 100 entries of
works are expected for the competition, but only three, he said will be given
prizes during the grand finale at Transcorp Hilton. “The top prizes are N100,
000, First; N250, 000, Second; and N150, 000 for the Third place”. However, the
prizes are not restricted to the top three. “The next three winners also get
N50, 000 each”.
In tribute to Odutoku,
Experience Nigeria has tagged the first prize of the 2013 edition ‘Gani
Odutokun Prize’. This is remembering the Ahmadu Bello University art teacher
“for his contribution to the development of Nigerian art. In particular, Olaopa
recalled that Odutokun “encouraged me to continue art event, even though I met
in just for a short period”.
Other categories of awards include Life Achievement, Art Teacher
of the Yea and Sponsors of the Year.
In addition to art competition, AARC also organizes art
exhibitions for selected artists as well as Children Creative Camp. For the exhibition,
twice it had focused special area such as sport, which was uncommon in art
promotion. .This much was witnessed in 2011 at a show, which had AARC took art to
the golf court in Ikoyi Club 1938. Works of over 40 artists were viewed by
golfers, sharing the beauty of creativity.
After 22 years, Experience Nigeria – the grandfather of art
competitions – is still not ”properly funded”. How has AARC kept the show going
till date? The challenges faced by a huge army of young artists has been the
motivation to keep Experience Nigeria art going, Oplopa stated . he was worried
that “cost of staging art exhibitions is increasingly out of reach for young
artists” noting that art galleries also have their preference, making it
extremely difficult to encourage young artists.
Olaopa was hopeful for support so that as the “past editions of
Experience Nigeria has empowered artists from different medium through the art
competitions, “the future of the show will get better if more corporate support
comes our way”.
Last year, Larry Isima’s painting titled Life, won the first prize
at the grand finale and exhibition held at National Museum, Onikan, Lagos
winner of the art competition,
Also,after last year’s event Olaopa said over 80 children from
Ayotayo Comprehensive School, Daniella's Montessori School and Little Saints
Orphanage were engaged in three specially designed activities,”
.
No comments:
Post a Comment