Adie Vanessa Offiong
15 November 2008
Climaxing the year long visual arts ceremonies by the National Gallery Of Art (NGA) is another first of its kind, the first National Visual Arts Competition.
In his remark, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation stated that, "this competition, conceived to be an annual event is aimed at discovering the latent visual art talents that abound in Nigerian youths in educational institutions as well as professionally; to engage these in achieving the desired rapid economic development of the country. Adding:
"the value proposition of this Competition is to create the awareness that the Visual Arts Sub-sector if properly organised and harnessed, is more than enough to sustain any nation." While encouraging the promotion of the visual arts sub-sector, he pointed out that, "our visual art industry is still grossly underdeveloped. It needs huge investment from both the government and private sector in order to bring it to the level where it can be a huge revenue earner."
Reiterating Prince Kayode's remarks, the Director General, NGA, Chief Joe Musa, stated that NGA's goal is, "for a corporate Nigeria to support visual art so that we can build a nation that gradually diversifies from oil-economy to one complimented by creative knowledge for an enduring growth and development.
Spelling out the essence of the competition he informed that, it is aimed at discovering the artistic genius of Nigerian pupils, students and professional artists in expressing themselves in various art forms and also to assist them develop their kills and creative abilities."
Assistant Director, Research and Education, and leader of the project team, Mr. Titus Akusu that, "the competition with the theme: Envisioning a new Nigeria through visual arts is timely considering that art and tourism have been repositioned as major income generating components of the Nigerian economy. Explaining further he said, "the sub themes: A nation of my dream; Art: A panacea for corruption; Agriculture: our wealth, our strength, and Save life: Keep our roads accident free were carefully chosen to reflect the Federal Government's Seven Point Agenda." On the criteria for choosing the works he informed that, "The competition spread across the six geo political zones where they were screened to the first, second and third from each. The 72 works which qualified were brought to the national level where the finalists were chosen by a panel."
Commending the efforts of the NGA and the swift move of the Nigerian Art and Culture sector in the past year, the Italian Ambassador to Nigeria, Massimo Baistrocchi noted that, "in only a few months beginning from August, the first Artexpo Nigeria and ARESUVA have taken place. The minister who started only last year has done an enormous job of it all. This event is of peculiar importance and a great achievement because of the impact it has on the educational levels. Perhaps, the next Michelangelo who lived in the renaissance will come from here. I think Nigeria is going through her own renaissance with the combined efforts of the NGA and Minister of Culture."
For pupils like 9-year-old Kizito Muoneto Okpoko, overall winner for the primary category, "it was a great experience participating in the competition. It gave my first chance to do art outside what my teacher had taught me and I am grateful to the organisers for this. Even though I do not want to study art in the university, I will continue to practice art." Still, Afolabi Ayodele, who got the second prize in the professional category, expressed gratitude for the initiative of the NGA to indulge every level of education along with professionals in such an activity. "Although I never engaged in any kind of competition as a student, preparing for this created some kind of warmth and fulfillment in me."
Even parents like Mrs. Okpoko overwhelmed and almost in tears had a word of appreciation. "I never imagined that my child would go this far to becoming first. I am happy that I gave him all the support he needed when he showed interest in art and that there was such an opportunity to show him off."
Evaluating the initiative and its effect on students' performance, Mr. Gambo Duniya of the Ahmadu Bello University acknowledged that, "it is an inspiring concept that will motivate students and professionals to work hard as an institution as the NGA has deemed it fit to reward artists as such. This has been lacking because one keeps working with no form of recognition or commendation. It will not replace the developmental efforts that participants are supposed to gear towards but it will encourage hard work."
It must have been a tough task for the jury to decide which works made qualified and which ones did not. It is no exaggerating to say the contestants outdid themselves in representing the themes. The works were a beauty to absorb. From the first prize ceramic piece by Agonsi Uche in the professional category, the first prize painting of very jubilant faces by Charles Achibi in the tertiary category, Henry Ibegunam's depiction of our wealth and strength in agriculture in the secondary catergory, to Kizito's innocent and sincere representation of his dream nation all provoked some kind of nostalgia as most of the works represented the beauty of Nigeria of the yesteryears.
With some dark and some soft, warm colours contrasting with intense strokes and patterns beside metal works and ceramics the works made a statement: art is no longer a pastime; it is now a source of entrepreneurial endeavour showcasing talents.
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