NEGLECT OF THE ART INDUSTRY BY GOVERNMENT STRESSED BY STAKEHOLDERS
OLADUNNI KOSOKO,OWONIFARI ADEDAMOLA
The
African foundation held its first ‘meet the Artist’ edition of 2015 on
Wednesday, 11th February, 2015 at the Arts gallery on No 54, Raymond
Njoku Street, Ikoyi, Lagos. This edition features a budding Nigerian activist,
Uche Uzotka, who displays and discusses
about his recent body of work that include “where were you when I was
here” and it feels strange to pay for Nigerian food. Both of which are products
of his residency at the Iwalewa Halls, Bayrenth and Savvy contemporary, Berlin
respectively.
His
book, “where were you when I was here” is an umbrella theme of his departure
from the general topic. He focuses on the simultaneous presence and absence of
contemporary African act within and outside the African continent. This work
was achieved through the process of cutting up images that represent works
stored in the Iwalewa halls archive. Familiar works yet disconnected from their
origins. He hopes to raise questions related not only to our daily relationship
with and corruption of achieved act, but also to the problem faced in Nigeria
and other countries where access to original works is often limited.
His
other work, “It felt strange to pay for Nigerian food” exploits alienation,
inclusion and the external perception of a subject by addressing anonymous
authorship and the free archive that the web represents. Uzotka worked with
phrases and search captions on internet relying entirely on the internet for
information about his chosen subject. Uche Uzotka is a mixed media artist who
lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. Born in the year 1974 in Delta state,
Nigeria, Nsukka, majoring in painting. Uche’s practice incorporates painting,
collage, cutting and pasting charcoal with ink drawing in examination of
processes of urban street culture. Uche won first place in the National Art
competition in 2011 for his collaboration with artist, Chike Okeagwu. His first
solo exhibition, Uche Uzotka: The organic was held on October 2012 at the
Gotche Institute, Nigeria in association with African Artist’s Foundation on
January 2013 with the theme line, sign and symbol.
Established
in 2007, African Artist’s Foundation is non-profit act organisation, which aims
to provide the development of African art and artists, with the joint mission
of raising awareness of relevant societal issues through the use of creative
act artistic expression. In carrying out its mission, AAF organises
competitions, workshops and exhibitions all aimed at unearthing talent,
creating societal awareness and promoting the development of art in Nigeria.
The art gallery is being managed by Mr Olayinka Stephen Sangotade.
One
of the major issues highlighted at the event was the neglect and lack of
support of Government towards the art industry. The Government is being urged
to promote the economic values of art and culture by supporting the industry
and making the general public recognize the relevance of art work which will
serve as an enabling factor in financial and artistic productivity of an artist
in order to generate income for both the artist and the economy.
Adedamola Owonifari & Oladunni Kosoko
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