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| L-R Mr. Oliver Enwonwu, Prince Yemisi Shyllon and Mr. Ezekiel Udubrae |
ADA DIKE
As
part of the celebration of 50th anniversary for practicing visual artists, the
Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) Plateau State Branch held an art in
exhibition in Lagos State.
With the theme:
Celebrating Peace, the exhibition which took place at the National Museum,
Onikan, Lagos, began around 2.00 pm on Friday November, 1, and ended on Wednesday,
November 6, 2013.
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| Udubrae |
In his welcome
address, the president of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Plateau State
Chapter, Mr. Ezekiel Emealereta Udubrae, said SNA Plateau Chapter has not
relented in ensuring that peace reigns in the state, using their works.
“We have continued
in spreading peace in Nigeria that is part of the reasons we decided to do the
exhibition in Lagos, to tell the world that Jos is a peaceful place to live.
There will be development, peace and progress if all Nigerians embrace peace. Jos
is now peaceful, so we implore investors and tourists to visit Jos and see that
peace has since returned. We decided to start in Lagos because it is the
citadel of commerce and tourism in Nigeria. We want people who have business to
do in Plateau State to come back. It is the only state that has Peace and
Tourism as its slogan," Udubrae said.
He revealed
that they were 12 artists that supposed to participate in the exhibition but
seven came and others couldn’t make it due to exigencies.
The curator of
National Museum, Lagos, Mrs. Edith O. Ekunke welcomed everyone and highlights
the importance of the exhibition as well its advantage which aimed to foster
peace and harmony among Nigerians.
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| Let there be peace! |
Similarly, the
National president of SNA, Mr. Oliver Enwonwu, the chief host of the event,
said that SNA operates in every state of the federation and “we will continue
to move from strength to strength. The importance of art in the development of
Nigeria cannot be over emphasized, especially, in terms of promoting Nigeria’s
cultural heritage, peace and unity.”
He applauded
the Plateau State Chapter for championing peace in the country.
In the same
vein, the special guest of honour of the event, Barr. Prince Yemisi Shyllon
averred that there’s no place you have five or more people there won’t be
conflict, but how people are able to resolve the conflict is important.
He thanked the
SNA Plateau State Chapter for organising the exhibition in Lagos. According to
the renowned art collector and curator, “artists have suffered for this country
including Professor Wole Soyinka. They have showed that out of turbulence of
Plateau, you can have things coming out.”
He also
eulogised the SNA National president for the good works he is doing.
Below are the
profiles of the artists who participated in the exhibition:
Ezekiel
Emealereta Udubrae
The current chairman
of the Society of Nigerian Artists, Plateau State Chapter, Mr. Ezekiel
Emealereta Udubrae is a studio artist with
a gallery in the premises of National Museum, Jos. He has oragnised and
participated in many exhibitions, both solo and group.
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| Facial true colour |
Born on April
19, 1952 at Oghenerurie-Iyede in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta
State, he attended College of Education, Benin City, Edo State from 1979 to
1982 where he obtained a National Certificate in General Arts.
He also had a
professional training in Cultural Resources Management at the Institute of
Archaeology and Museum Studies, Jos in 1994, Postgraduate Diploma in Public
Administration in 2005 from Edo State University, Ekpoma.
Udubrae joined the
service of the National Commission of Museums and Monuments (former Federal
Department of Antiquities) in 1975 where he rose from Museum Education Officer
to Assistant Director before retiring 35 years later as Head of Department of
Museum Studies in 2010.
He is a member
of many professional bodies including International Council for Museums in
Africa (ICOM) Member, Museum Association of Nigeria (MAN) Member, Society of
Nigerian Artists (SNA) Member, Nigerian Institute of Management (MNIM) Fellow, Institute
of Corporate Executive of Nigeria and so on.
He has won
several awards, prizes and sponsorship in recognition of his diligence,
expertise and professionalism as an artist. Among the numerous awards and
sponsorship include: the NYSC Chairman’s award in 1983 at Oyo State, he was
sponsored by the National Commission for Museum and Monuments to attend an
international workshop on creative silk screen printing, organised in
conjunction with Graphic Artists in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He won the
Individual Best Pavilion African Award in African Arts and Craft Expo in Abuja
2012.
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| Adenle |
Barris A.
Adenle
Barris A.
Adenle is a full time practicing sculptor based in Plateau State. Born at
Aiyetoro in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State of Nigeria, he
studied in Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and graduated in 1988,
specializing in sculpture. His areas of interest include woodcarving, wood
assemblage, commission sculptures, drawings and book illustration.
He produces sculptures
that are functional and those symbolizing traditional and cultural beliefs of
the people.
Adenle’s works
are mostly wood sculptures and his approach is balanced in stylized ideal proportion.
The renowned
artist has held many joint exhibitions and executed several commission jobs and
most of his works are in private homes in Nigeria and abroad.
Jai’Mariali
Jai’Mariali is
a contemporary artist residing and working in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.
Inspired by the beauty of African contemporary arts, Jai uses chip-carvings,
collage and paintings to express his pleasures and reactions, not forgetting his
aesthetic passion for pure abstracts.
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| Welcome |
Rwang Mark
Rwang Mark,
painter and graphic artist started his career with the Graphic Design Department
of the Nigerian Television Authority, Jos after completing his course from St.
Murumba College, Jos in 1984. He did a short course in Ahmadu Bello University
(ABU), Zaria in Art and Design and holds a Bachelor degree in Fine Art from the
same institution.
Within his 13
years of working in NTA Jos, he attended several professional courses in NTA-TV
College on Graphics and Set Design, Props Design, ENG Animation as well as
Diploma in TV Production (1991).
Apart from
working with an advertising agency, he has been engaged in several movie
production designs. He says: “I cherish the thought of painting and I love to
paint because of the primary colours that run in my veins and I have always thanked
God for this wonderful colourful world that inspires me to document my thought
visually.”
Mark has
attended a number of exhibitions in ABU, Zaria, Makurdi, and Jos. Born in 1962;
he is married and blessed with four children. He is currently teaching Graphics
and Animation in a high institution.
Garose Oyek
Garose Oyek hails
from Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State. Born on March 8, 1988, she
obtained her first degree in English Language in 2012, from Federal College of
Education, Pankshin, affiliated to the University of Jos, Plateau State. She is
presently waiting for National Youth Service Corps posting.
She produces
artworks. Art is always on her mind which gives her the zeal to express day to
day activities through production of several works, interpreting cultures.
Peter Ogblabo
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| Female traditional musicians |
Peter Ogblabo hails
from Ugboju Icho in Oturkpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. He
holds a Higher national Diploma in Graphics from Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo
and postgraduate diploma in education.
He is currently
an instructor with Air Force Military School (AFMS) Jos and at the present, the
head of department of Arts (Fine Arts)
Ogblabo has
participated in several exhibitions in and outside Jos. He has his works in Jos
and around the country Nigeria, United States of America and Europe.
The illustrious
artist has a studio named Ekeles Productions where he does his work of
graphics, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, printing, design and construction. He
is a prolific all round artist who had more than 25 major artworks commissioned
within Nigeria.
He has worked
as a graphic artist, illustrator/visualise, designer, photographer and a
cartoonist.
He is currently
the secretary, Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA), Plateau State Chapter and
recently appointed into the zonal working committee of Middle Belt of the
Society of Nigerian Artists as the head of publicity.
Olukayode Sosan
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| So they come |
Olukayode Sosan
is presently a studio artist and an instructor with Nigerian Airforce Military
School, Jos, Plateau State.
He hails from
Ogun State. Born on July 10, 1981, he obtained National Diploma (General Art)
and Higher National Diploma (Painting) in 2005 and 2008 respectively from Yaba
College of Technology. He subsequently obtained a postgraduate diploma in
Education in 2011.
An
impressionist with keen interest on social issues and activities, he is a
member of SNA, Plateau State Chapter.
He has
participated in several joint exhibitions, having a solo exhibition to his
credit in 2010.
Some of the
artworks they exhibited in Lagos included: Let there be peace, Here we come, Female
traditional musicians, Firewood gathering as alternative energy, Shere hills,
Settlement, Welcome and so on.
Describing an
artwork named Facial True Colour, Mr. Barris A. Adenle explained that behind
the facial look of every human being lies his or her true colour. “It
symbolises the true colour of man.”
He revealed
that he left Ogun State, his state of origin and based in Jos to see the way of
lives of people there and to showcase his craft.
Generally, he
said: “As an artist, I always move around to see what is happening somewhere. It
is unfortunate that a lot of Nigerians don’t appreciate artwork, by and large,
it is very lucrative. I make mostly artworks of functional utility like wooden
centre table and side tables, among others. I have trained a lot of upcoming
artists on sculpting and so on.”
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| Firewood gathering as alternative energy |
In his closing
remarks, the Plateau State SNA president, Mr. Udubrae acknowledged the immense
contribution of individuals including the Director General of National
Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mallam Yusuf Abdallah Usman, the curator
of National Museum, Lagos, Mrs. Edith O. Ekunke, the special guest of honour, Barr.
Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Mr. Oliver Enwonwu for accepting to be the chief host, the
president of SNA, Lagos State Chapter, Mr. Dotun Alabi, members of the SNA, Lagos State Chapter,
members of the SNA Plateau State chapter, the press and the staff of National
Museum, Lagos.
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| Shere Hills |
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