Nigeria

_{GALERIE 23 Hedendaagse Afrikaanse Kunst}

_{Invites you to the "The Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit" exhibition.}

_{From 26 June - 27 July 2008 Galerie 23 presents in cooperation with  African Artists' Foundation (AAF) in Lagos and sponsored by Nigerian Breweries, part of Heineken International}

_{The Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit: Photo’s, paintings and objects of 10 Nigerian artists}

_{The exhibition will be opened on Thursday 26 June 17.30 hours by}  

_{Tom de Man, Regional President Africa & Middle East, Heineken International,}

_{in the presence of artists: Gerald Chukwuma, Yomi Momoh, Tola Wewe, Emmanuel Dudu}

_{And a representatives of AAF.}

_{Also the new catalogue The Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit will be released.}

_{Click here for more}

^{Commercially astute artist, Maria Onyegbule, whose exhibition work includes Hidden Agenda (former Ikon Gallery) and Comforts of Heritage (Oxford House, London) will be visiting Africancolours, Nairobi for a month long residency in July 2008. Maria has a teaching experience which ranges from the formal education setting to community art, “where life long learners have explored their innate creative ability”. Maria describes her work as versatile, empathic and community focused. Click here to view Maria’s virtual exhibition.}

^{When the CEO of the National Gallery of Art, Nigeria, Chief Joe Musa, assumed office two years ago, he made his target very clear for the visual art sub-sector of the Culture Ministry, among other things, the repositioning of the visual art as one of the economic drivers of the national economy and wealth. “My era is an era of art for business”. Until a time when the visual artist, like the musician, would begin to receive royalties for his works, we will not rest". Read more by Mcphilips Nwachuku}

^{Ten Nigerian artists, who recently excelled in an international art exhibition and competition entitled "The Unbreakable Nigeria Spirit", held in different cities of the country would be sponsored by Nigeria Breweries Plc to Amsterdam, Holland to showcase their budding talents in April 2008.The competition organised by the African Artists' Foundation (AAF) in collaboration with the Nigerian Breweries saw to the emergence of 10 including Oladimeji Alabi, Emeka Ogboh and Yomi Momoh. Read more from AllAfrica}

^{Edorodion Ventures, an organisation headed by Eno Louis Enobakhare, organises the yearly Bronze Festival, Benin City. An exhibition of more than 3,000 and other bronze works. It has been on for three years. The 2007 version was sponsored by GTBank and the Edo State Government. The Bronze Festival's objective is to preserve a culture that has produced masterpieces being scrambled for today by the powers-that-be. It is time for action. Read more fron Eno's article on allAfrica.}

^{Joe Musa, Director-General, National Gallery of Arts is sure not playing to the gallery as he plans to give the sector a new face writes Frank Meke. Visual arts and paintings may not hold water with the ordinary Nigerian but the over N2Billion sector is sure attractive for a federal presence. Joe Musa, an accomplished visual artist and painter saddled with turning around the fortunes of the sector, said the strategy is hinged on training and retraining of all stakeholders. Read more from Sun News Online}

^{All is now set for the hosting of the first African regional summit and exhibition on visual arts being put together by the National Gallery of Arts (NGA) to strengthen the place of visual arts in the  development of African countries. The summit, which will be held  at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, has as its theme, Promoting the Visual Arts for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development in Africa. Director-General of the NGA, Mr. Joe Musa made this disclosure. Read more from Benjamin Njoku.}

_{HOW much can the products of culture be used as tools to addressing the challenges of the time? Is it possible to use arts  and culture in providing solutions to the prevailing social problems of unemployment, youth restiveness, poverty, national  integration and unity in diversity? Does the greatest challenge facing the Nigerian nation today transcend that of  maintenance of territorial integrity to contending with the monstrous activities of the present day youths? Read more}

_{Nigerian born artist, Yisa Akinbolaji is participating in a group exhibition at the Mennonite Heritage Centre; Winnipeg, Canada titled “Invisible Dignity”. His dexterity and uncompromising freedom in his colour usage, has earned him several commissioned projects in mosaic installations. Yisa recently installed a dynamic new mosaic in the front yard of his home titled “Peace and Purpose”. The unveiling ceremony literally stopped traffic. Read more}

_{Prince Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale-Toyeje Oyekale Osuntoki, also known as Twins Seven Seven is one of the most well known contemporary African artists. His technique is richly variable and his works mirror his multifaceted media, passionate personality and the influence of the rites and rituals of the Yoruba culture. Between 17 June to 27 July 2007, Twins Seven Seven’s work is exhibited in the Galerie in der Promenade in the Bavarian city of Fürth. Read more by Akinyi Princess of K'Orinda-Yimbo}

_{“Made in Africa” Biennale: Afrika Heritage and the Politics of Representation, the 6th edition of Afrika Heritage comes at a time when there is a call for a Nigerian biennale. From the first biennale in 1995, Afrika Heritage has illuminated the well-rehearsed African-American maxim, “For US, by US (FUBU),” popularised by the New York based clothing company FUBU.  By inserting itself as an agency of pan-African activism... Read more}

_{AFTER venturing into the compositional world of visual creation less than two years of age, little Nigeria born,  Onarietta Remet may soon become the cynosure of attraction across the world should the Guinness World Record finally recognize her as the youngest professional artist. Amazingly, little Onarietta started painting professionally at 18 months, with her first work...Read more from Vanguard}

_{Alliance Francaise , the French-socio cultural centre in Enugu is gradually positioning itself  as the rallying hub of the arts, East of the Niger. Recently, two distinct exhibitions were held as part of  activities commemorating the French cultural week. On focus were  the Nigerian born sculptor and graphic artist, James Uche Iroha and the Togolese painter, Samuel Tete-Katchan. Read more from Vanguard}

_{The archetypical subject of the (usually female) nude was a cornerstone of studio photography in Africa in the late 19th-century. Images of naked black girls and women were acceptable voyeuristic and erotic images because the subjects were exotic in European eyes. In recent years contemporary art practice has reclaimed the body and artists such as Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Emeka Okereke...Read more}

_{The power of art as a viable means of communication in the various sectors of human endeavors cannot be undermined. The point of contention among scholars over the century concerning art has been more on the meaning of art rather than on the definition of art. Divided broadly, theories on the meaning of art could be classified into three distinct groups. The humanistic theories, which submit that art...Read more}

_{A renaissance in the visual arts of the sort that occurred in Nigeria, Senegal, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and South Africa has yet to unfold in East and Central Africa. Writers and poets, however, perhaps as precursors, have found an "African" voice, and have created new images to address contemporary issues. While a number of outstanding visual artists have appeared...Read full article}

_{ESSENTIALLY unassuming, gentle and posing like "walking art." Many would think that he is married to his art and he is quick to confirm your doubts. In his Ilupeju  area , the artist, Rom Isichei lives quietly celibate life even while committed seriously to his art. His living room is in every sense a gallery housing many paintings done  in diverse media of arresting beauty. Read more} 

_{The recent compilation of essays resulting from the symposium organized by Mufu Onifade titled "When Does An Artist Become a Master?" is quite engaging and illuminating on the way some Nigerian artists and art scholars perceive the concept of "Master artist". Surprisingly, none of the essay and speakers referred to the certification by the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) in classifying its membership. Read More}

^{Foreign art collectors cannot visit Nigeria without stopping at Osogbo, a prominent home of art, to add to their collections. Notable among their hosts in the ancient town is MAO Art Gallery & Studios, which is fast assuming the status of a tourist centre and major attraction. Director of the studio, Azeez Isiaka, speaks with Tunde Busari on his journey into the exciting world of visual art. Read more from the Nigerian Tribune}

_{An exhibition of textiles from diverse Commonwealth countries that recall the astonishing skills of traditional designers is currently underway at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Gallery in Melbourne, Australia. Titled “Threading the Commonwealth” and curated by Prof. Jasleen Dhamija, the exhibition simply reveals in a bold manner the implicit immersion in traditional and cultural norms by the creators ....more}

Traditional African life started undergoing significant transformation in the nineteenth century. 

Christianity engineered the decline of traditional worship, and with it, traditional art, was described as fetish. 

Western education, western-made industrial materials and commerce made Africans abandon their traditional crafts, and the apprenticeship systems that served as their lifeline, for white collar jobs, which provided waged labour. 

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