Mohammed Shosanya
The Abuja edition of the ‘Life In My City Art Festival’ Abuja Region Exhibition,has opened at the Thought Pyramid Art Centre Abuja with the theme ‘ Humanism’
A seven- month- old baby, Akuchinyere Bliss Enyeribe is among the artists taking part in the event which is an annual celebration of creativity featuring young talents in the Nigerian art landscape.
Akuchinyere showcased three of her works through her mother which are made up of paintings on the paper with different colours and impressions with the title ‘ The Art of Giving ‘
The event will feature festivals, lectures, engaging workshops for school children and art teachers as well as workshops for children with disabilities.
The Regional exhibitions will take place in fourteen ( 14 ) selected cities nationwide, providing artists from all regions with an opportunity to showcase their work .
The Grand finale of the event will be held on 19th – 26th October 2024 in Enugu, Enugu State and will showcase the work of 100 artists selected from the regional exhibitions with each artist sponsored to participate in the event.
Addressing journalists during the opening ceremony the LIMCAF Art Director, Ayo Adewunmi said the festival will feature 75 creative works of young artists who will be competing in the National competition involving artists from 15 regions of the county.
According to him, “ We think that there is a need to have opportunity for the younger generation and what we can do is to think of how we can help our younger Nigerian artists.
Asked about the criteria to be used by the local judges in making selection Adewunmi said “ The use certain criteria which includes; thematic relevance, technical proficiency, the art work, basic principles of art and the quality of production.
Those are the things the local jurists will look at and unfortunately we have limited space for each region. Abuja for instance may have more thank nine ( 9 ) entries out of these 75 . So is very and they consider the spread of the various area of art. You have mixed media, photography, digital art , so they consider that in their selection.
Adewunmi lamented the low patronage of the visual art in the country saying is not getting support that is required.
“ When you see a product like ‘Life In My City’ that is already making waves you need to support it and give it global relevance. We said let us encourage the artists to look at their environment and make statement concerning what is happening there even though we have thematic concept every year . But before now the idea is to talk about life in your city , village and environment. We expect them to look into their environment and interpret visually”.
The Director General National Council For Art and Culture, Mr. Obi Asika who was represented by Chris Obada commended the courage and resilience of the organizers of LIMCAF and determination of young people who took Art off the shelf and put it in the street.
He also pledged to prioritize the relationship between the council and the other stakeholders with the view to promoting art in the country.
According to Asika,”I wish to welcome everyone again to this event and I must say that I am very impressed with the ambience as provided by our regular host and foremost art hangout, the Thought Pyramid Art Centre. Well done.
“ When I received the invitation to this event, I asked for a brief concerning LIFE IN MY CITY and what I received had a huge imprint on me. Looking through the prism of my vision of charting a new course both in art administration and practice, I saw in LIMCAF courage, determination and resilience of young people who took Art off the shelf and put it in the streets, thereby enlivening art talents and berthing one of the most consistent creative converges that this sector has witnessed in the period of a little less than two decades.
“ On a worrisome note, the organisers of this event in their letter of invitation have termed the contribution of the National Gallery of Art to them in their 17 years of existence as “scanty” and for an agency whose primary responsibility is to oversee the development of our nation’s creative resource, that is not acceptable.
“ But let it be told that there is a new sheriff in town with a smoking gun and a listening ear for everyone. Please be informed that as Director General, I have begun to pull down barriers and diffuse negative energies that have hitherto affected relationships between the National Gallery of art and its critical stakeholders. So, impressions like this are becoming a thing of the past.
“ In closing, let me say that LIMCAF has done well as engine room of creative interchange and I consider it as great inspiration especially in an era when very many art programmes are depending on government handouts. Looking closely, I see areas of synergy between them and the National Gallery of Art and I am using this opportunity to invite them for cross fertilization of ideas for the benefit of the Visual Art sector.
“ Also, I am determined to expand the contents of our national Collection, therefore I am looking forward to the climax and award night of this gathering in October, 2024. Please come with me there again, and thank you for listening”
No fewer than 637 entries were received from around the regions including Lagos, Ogun, Ibadan, Abeokuta , Jos PortHarcourt , Abuja, Zaria and Enugu.
Also at the event was Martin Ilo , board member of LIMCAF, Cultural Affairs Officer US Embassy, Brian Neuberty , Associate Curator Thought Pyramid Art Centre , Ogbonnaya Eke and other art enthusiasts.
