As the Nigeria creative industry evolves, more extremely talented artists push their way into the art space with bold statements about the country's impressive position in the global art scene.
Last week, BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, held a colourful event at the Alliance Française Ikoyi Lagos, where the regional and national winners of the sixth edition of its flagship ballpoint pen art competition, Art Master Africa, were announced.
Two young Nigerian artists were celebrated out of over 6,000 entries received for this year's competition.
The competition was launched earlier this year with calls for entries from creatives to depict their interpretation of Ubuntu (or One Africa), which is this year's competition's theme, using the iconic BIC ballpoint pen.
This year, the event held in partnership with Alliance Francaise Lagos, witnessed the convergence of numerous local artists, government stakeholders and members of the Nigerian art community.
At the end of the event, young Nigerian artist - Joseph Akpan, was awarded the title of regional winner for his inspiring piece, themed "Stronger Together", while Joshua Makinde, another young artist emerged as the national winner with his artwork, 'Ayodeji'.
These exceptional creations, along with other finalists' works, beautifully interpret the philosophy of 'Ubuntu', underscoring Africa's interdependence and cultural resilience.
Art Master Africa selected three regional winners and six national winners across the continent. The top regional winner received a grand cash prize of USD 2,000, an exclusive feature in the Art Master Africa Metaverse Gallery, and an opportunity for inclusion in BIC's Global Art Collection. The second and third-place winners were awarded USD 1,000 and USD 500 respectively. Also, each national winner, including Nigeria's Joshua Makinde, received USD 500 in recognition of their outstanding talent and creativity.
Highlights of the event were live drawing of map of Africa with beautiful portraits of notable African figures by three artists, and performances portraying the rich cultural heritages of Nigeria and South Africa.
Speaking during the award event, Marketing Director for BIC Middle East and Africa and Art Master Africa's custodian, Gregory Alibaux, stated; "We are proud of running Art Master Africa for the sixth year in a row. The competition has come a long way, starting in South Africa in 2017 and expanding into the wider region. It has brought to life phenomenal talent from across the region and is a testament to our commitment to unleashing creativity using writing tools and living up to our vision of bringing simplicity and joy to everyday life through our products. We continue to be in awe every year after seeing the submissions we receive from the region, and we are confident that we will continue to help more talent surface through this flagship competition."
Also commenting on this year's edition, Judge Gary Eric added, "The artworks we received are a testament to the incredible talent and creativity on the African continent. Each piece reflects the artist's individual talents while connecting to the broader message of unity and harmony across African communities. As the judging panel, we were very impressed with this year's submissions."
Visibly enthused for his feat, the Regional Winner, Joseph Akpan, said: "I am truly honored to be recognized as the regional winner of the Art Master Africa competition. This year's theme, Ubuntu, holds deep meaning for me, as it speaks to the power of unity and community in Africa. My artwork, 'Stronger Together', reflects this idea of collective strength, and I am proud that it resonates with others. I appreciate BIC for providing a platform that not only celebrates African talent but also empowers artists like me to tell our stories to the world. This recognition fuels my passion and commitment to continue creating art that unites and inspires."
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Also speaking at the event, National winner Joshua Makinde, shared his excitement saying, "Being part of the Art Master Africa competition has been an inspiring journey. I am honored to have my work recognized nationally and regionally, especially for a theme as meaningful as Ubuntu. This platform has given me and countless others an opportunity to express our creativity on a large scale, and I encourage fellow artists to join and share their visions with the world."
In previous editions of Art Master Africa, BIC has been dedicated to empowering local artists and fostering the growth of the creative industry in Nigeria.
