Heritage for sale... Like Nigeria's National Arts Theatre, outrage in India over Taj Mahal, other sites

Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India (built in 1653). Pic: Archival Source.

While the controversy over Nigerian Government's proposed plans to sell some of its national assets, including the National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos, is still fresh, India has a similar issue. The Indian government, according to sources, tags its own policy 'Adopt a Heritage', a direction in which 95 historic sites, including the fifteenth century Taj Mahal could be taken over by private entities.
 Late last year, Nigerian Government announced plans to generate N311bn from privatisation of public properties and the sale of national assets to partly finance the 2018 budget.

Nkanga may return to Sharjah Biennial

Filtered Memories – Working Men, 1990.

As Belgium-based Otobong Nkanga's exhibition is on till September 2, 2018 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, the artist has also been listed to show a the next year's Sharjah Biennial, in UAE.

The organisers, Sharjah Art
Foundation announces the initial selection

1-54 New York opens on Friday with Azikiwe Mohammed's design

Azikiwe Mohammed's installation Jimmy’s Thrift. Pic: Courtesy the artist

In its fourth edition, 1-54 Contemporary African Art (New York) opens on Friday 4 May and running until Sunday 6 May. It features what the organisers call Pioneer Works, showcasing the works of over 60 artists, 21 galleries and 7 Special Projects.
 Also, for its fourth New York edition, 1-54 has invited artist Azikiwe Mohammed

How Lagos auction house exposed 29-year-old 'stolen' Tola Wewe painting

A 'stolen' painting titled 'Iye Bowabo' by Tola Wewe.

As the value of art increases in commercial and critical appreciation, the Nigerian  secondary market appears to have uncovered a painting placed on 'stolen' list for 29 years.
 Titled Iye Boabo, and by Tola Wewe, the painting, according to the artist was exposed by Nigeria's leading  auctioneer, Arthouse Contemporary, during preparation for the next sales scheduled for May this year. However, the unearthing of the painting may also give a lead to the holders of over 100 pieces of art allegedly stolen at the same time Iye Boabo was declared missing. In fact, Wewe told select guests in Lagos yesterday that the store in which the works were kept was looted then.
 In 1989, Wewe, Moyo Okediji, Kunle Filani, Tunde Nasiru and Bolaji Campbell - all founding members of Ona - had a group art exhibition at

Across the deserts, Komolafe leads 300 Europeans, Africans to Lagos on motor rally

Chief Omotunde Komolafe during his last your.

Twice within a period of ten years, Hungary-based Chief Omotunde Komolafe has travelled between two continents, crossing many countries on each tour.
 Next, in June 2018, Komolafe, a performing artiste, will lead other 300 co-travellers from Europe to Africa with Lagos, specifically, Lekki. as destination.
 Cross-continents tour is not new to Nigerians. From mid 20th century to 1970s through 1980s, Moshood Olabisi Ajala (circa 1930s -1999) was known for travelling all over the world. And in the 21st century, Newton Jibunor headed for the deserts enroute Europe to and fro. In fact, Ajala's tour was truly the real globetrotting yet unbeaten: he was said to have visited India, former USSR, Jordan, Iran, Israel and Australia. all on a motorcycle brand known as Vespa.
 In contemporary period, Komolafe has chosen to turn his own passion

Canadian-honour for Nigerian artist, Akinbolaji

Artist, Yisa Akinbolaji (centre), shortly after he reived his award.

Twenty One years after artist, Yisa Akinbolaji left Nigeria for Canada, his contributions to the development of the host community has been formally recognised in Premier's Volunteer Service Award.
 On Thursday, Akinbolaji, the founder of Creative Foundation was honoured by the government

With Vision Of The Last Quarter, 50 Years Of Osogbo Art Glows In Lagos

Guests and artists during the opening of Vision of The Last Quarter at Thought Pyramid Centre, Lagos...recently.

WHEN Osogbo school emerged in the early 1960s, two crucial landmarks in Nigerian art lexicon were recorded: the potency of native content in creative expressions and a coincidence on the eve of the country’s transition from modern to contemporary art. In celebrating 50 years of Osogbo phenomenon, the event would highlight a group of artists, who are modernists by career path, but excelling in contemporary period.
  That trajectory of building a link between two periods of a nation’s art, which the artists of Osogbo informal school holds, has become a reference point. And 50 years on, it is worth celebrating while also introspecting into its hold on 21st Century

Language of beats come alive at 'African Drum Festival'

Governor Ibikunle Amosun during the last year's event in Abeokuta

In its third edition, the yearly African Drum Festival, organised by Ogun State, South West of Nigeria will focus the communication essence  and origin of drum in Africa.
 Holding on its traditional third Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the third week in

Adeshina returns in art of 'Internal Conflicts'

After his last solo titled Void to Form, Ademola Adeshina is back to the exhibition circuit. He is taking his thoughts to Weave&Co Gallery's 'New Possibilities' series art exhibitions, which took off last month. As the third artist in the series, Adeshina brings a new body of work titled Internal Conflicts, showing from April 21 - May, 2018 at Moor House Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. The 'New Possibilities', an initiative of curator at Moor House, Ora Ataguba opened with

Ogwu's solo in over three-decade-career captures 'Freedom' as a metaphor for human development

A painting titled Strength by Festus Ogwu

Festus Eyitemi Ogwu returns to the art exhibition circuit for his first solo, with the 'gospel' of creating an atmosphere of self- determination for all. A painter of deep impressionistic rendition, Ogwu who has over three decades of post-training practice to flaunt, shows a body of recent work simply titled Freedom, from April 6 - 19, 2018 at Moor House Hotel Ikyoi, Lagos Island. His art profession, which gives wider freedom of expression, the artist says, also inspired the theme of the art exhibition.
 With combined soft application of colour and and brightened surface, Ogwu's canvas emits quietness. Perhaps, the strength of Ogwu's visual communication skill lies in the way he allows his subject and space to dialogue,

Layiwola, Oloko Get Rhodes Awards

Prof Peju Layiwola

Professor Peju Layiwola, Head of the Department of Creative Arts and Dr. Patrick Oloko, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English, have been awarded the Rhodes Artist and Writer (RAW) residency fellowship p rogramme for 2018.
 The RAW Residency programme is hosted by the Department of Fine Arts of Rhodes University in Grahamstown, the National Research Foundations (NRF) of South Africa and the Andrew. W. Mellon Foundation under the

Affordable Art Fair Debuts In Ibadan

One of the art pices  as poster-face of  Affordable Art Fair

The growing trend of art fairs around the world is also getting attention in Nigeria, so suggests a new addition, Affordable Art Fair.
Its maiden edition, according to a statement from the organisers holds on April 20 -23 2018 at the Initiative For Information, Arts and Culture Development in Nigeria, Leventis Building, 54 Magazine Road, Jericho Ibadan. The  statement

Art 'critic', Ooni of Ife boosts appreciation at The Content Show

(L-R) Chairman of Sofisticat, Mr Lanre Ogunlesi; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Founder of Adam&Eve, Mrs Modupe Ogunlesi and Erelu Abiola Dosunmu during the opening of The Content - Spring Edition, yesterday.

Yesterday, Lagos, Ikeja specifically, got a feel of royal knowledge in art appreciation when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi opened The Content -Spring Edition  exhibition.
 While being led on tour of the exhibits by the organiser, Mrs Modupe Ogunlesi and curator, Lekan Onabanjo at Adam&Eve, GRA, Ikeja, the Ooni showed that he has an understanding of art. On nearly every each of the eight exhibiting artists' works, Oba Adeyeye 'critique' what he saw on the walls.  Tayo Adenaike, Olu Ajayi, Ini Brown, Sam Ovraiti, Lekan Onabanjo, Tunde Soyinka,

Rejuvenating Coptic Art In Makinde's 'Testament of The Last Supper' Painting

 

'The Last Supper'

   

Apart from being among the most popular stories of the Bible, 'The Last Supper' phenomenon remains an event that has left an indelible mark in the 2000 years history of Christianity as it is continuously refreshed through the annually celebrated Easter festivity. 

African Artists, Diversity And New Contemporary Statements Headline Art Dubai 2018

Inside Gallery 1957's Booth B4, at Art Dubai 2018

AS art fairs are growing across the world and becoming the 21st Century’s new opium in culture economy, artists of African descents seem to be keeping pace as well. They are increasingly taking the opportunity of the level-playing field that art fairs bring around the world.
  At one of the most global of such art fairs, Art Dubai 2018, new visual culture statements were made by African artists at the Contemporary Gaĺleries Section. Victor Ehikhamenor, Ade Adesina, Victor Ekpuk, Modupeola Fadugba (Nigeria), Zahra Opoku (Ghana), and Wosene Worke Kosrof and Girma Bert (Ethiopia) all showed their works at the Contemporary section. Lisbon, Portugal-based Perve Gallery, made its fourth appearance to the fair with two Mozambican artists at the Modern Galleries Section.
  
There were ten African artists and two galleries from sub-Saharan Africa. In fact, there was no need for a magnifying lens to notice the presence of art from sub-Saharan Africa during Art Dubai 2018, held at a vast beach-side resort and traditional venue, Madinat Jumeirah. Sponsored by Julius Baer, Meraas and Piaget, Art Dubai 2018 featured a record 104 galleries.