An Art
exhibition in the city brings artists and art lovers together, by Alkasim
Abdulkadir
It is early
evening in Abuja, and the sun is setting on Harrow Park Golf Club, the city’s
new, picturesque and exclusive clubhouse. The guests begin to arrive with
expectation and excitement boldly scrawled on their faces. They all have
unbridled passion for the arts and have come to honour the invitation of
Rosemary Madubunyi, whose BlackPearl Collections is behind the exhibition
titled New Traditions in Contemporary Nigerian Painting.
On display at
this vibrant exhibition are the works of contemporary artists such as Ndidi
Emefiele, an award-winning female artist, who is based in Abuja and is seen as
a good bet for savvy collectors. Others are Gerry Nnubia, a graduate of the
Institute of Management Technology, Enugu who describes himself as an experimental
and convention-breaking artist; Olu Ajayi, a graduate of the Federal
Polytechnic, Auchi who has evolved from an illustrator and cartoonist into one
of the most significant artists working in Nigeria today; Pita Ohiwere, a
US-based Nigerian artist whose work has been widely exhibited and collected
across Africa, Europe and North America; and Sam Ovraiti, who graduated with
distinction at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi and is a lecturer in drawing and
illustration at the same school and has held several solo exhibitions in
Nigeria, US and UK.
Anezie Chiwuba
took Art modules in his undergraduate days at Knox College, Illinois, USA, and
he is bothered that there are too few art exhibitions in Abuja where he now
resides. For him, attending the opening of Blackpearl Collections’ maiden
exhibition in Abuja didn’t need a second thought. He finds Emefiele’s works
very exciting, especially their reliance on contemporary pop culture and the
diversity inherent in her abstract messages.
Halima Mohammed
walks briskly from one painting to the other, stopping to reflect momentarily
at some pieces. For Mohammed, the works are very avant-garde and
ground-breaking for the Abuja arts scene.
“The
organizers have done a good job,” says Kayode Are, an arts aficionado. “This is
high style, high living and high ideas.” Chet Mbadinuju, another guest, says “I
find the exhibition very impressive. As you can see, the collections are pretty
contemporary.”
The
exhibition, according to Madubunyi who put it together, is part of a series of
an initiative designed to expand appreciation and demand for high quality,
contemporary Nigerian and African art. She is translating her passion for the
arts into a business after obtaining a law degree in France. These days, she
likes to describe herself as an arts consultant –someone who sees arts as an
investment, ensuring a steady supply of art works to corporate organizations
and individuals.
The exhibition
is the first outing for her company BlackPearl Collections.
Pictures by Godswill Ayemoba below:
Blackpearl Collections' founder Rosemary Madubunyi
A couple examine a piece of abstract art
Art at the Blackpearl Collections' exhibition
Guests at the exhibition react to a painting
No comments:
Post a Comment