Finalists emerge for 8th Annual National Art Competition

The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre U. Ekanem; Director, African Artists’ Foundation, Mr. Azubike Nwagbogu; Olayinka Olatoye, Dudu Emmanuel and Emete Tonukari flanked by 12 finalist for the National Art Competition 2015

BY ADA DIKE

African Artists’ Foundation and Nigerian Breweries Plc last week Thursday, unveiled twelve finalists that will take part in this year’s edition of the National Art Competition (NAC).

The artists were selected from over a hundred proposals received from all geopolitical zones in Nigeria after long and careful consideration of the selection committee led by one of the best contemporary visual artists in African, Professor El Anatsui.

They are: Adetunwase Adenle, Funmi Akindejoye, Michael Enejison, Chinenye Emelogu, Maryam Kazzem, May Okafor and Stacey Okparavero.

Others are: Komi Olafimihan, Ngozi Omeje, Babatunde Oyeyemi, Folami Razaq and Sabastine Ugwuoke.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos last week, Director, African Artists’ Foundation, Mr. Azubike Nwagbogu, expressed delight at the selection and reiterated that the national Art Competition aims to promote the development of contemporary African Art and raise awareness of social issues through the use of creative artistic expression. “This year, we had an unprecedented number of strong, conceptually sophisticated entries, proposing a variety of artistic practices in response to the “Future Histories”.

“Future Histories seeks to provoke the thought of artists on how innovation and creativity can be utilized as a tool to shape and mould the future history of Nigeria,” he added.

 Future Histories, according to him, starts from the premise that the artist is a barometer and prognosticator of society and is able to design, create and narrate a future for the nation based on experience and knowledge of the past and that artistic quality that allows her to imagine newer narratives that are yet explored.

Nwagbogu maintained that Future Histories encourages artists to think laterally about the social, political and cultural climate of their local communities whilst exploring their terra incognita practice. “A creative production of how art explores both the imaginary and the inevitable elements of the future while maintaining its innate quality of documentation and foresight.”

The Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigeria Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre U. Ekanem stressed that the National Art Competition places emphasis on the process of artistic creation rather than solely the end product, where artists develop ideas and the message of their work. “This is to reflect the National Art Competition’s renewed focus on artistic processes, an agenda which will be rigorously pursued in the coming years with the theme: “Process to Product”.”

Speaking to Newswatch Times, one of the finalists, May Okafor, said,

“I told them that beyond the money, I see offers, so for me, it is a privilege to be a part of this competition.”

Newswatch Times also gathered that finalists will take part in an Artist Retreat between August 3rd to 5^th, 2015 at the African Artists’ Foundation office in Ikoyi, Lagos, where finalists will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with one another and participate in workshops by leading artists, scholars and practitioners in their fields.

The organizers, however, emphasized that, during this workshop, the finalists will be hosted by Samsung Electronics West Africa to showcase digital solutions in Art. According to them, this will be the first time a technology company will be bringing its solutions to a sector that prides itself on creativity.

Workshop facilitators and artists mentors in the Artist Retreat include: Theo Lawson, Patrick Koshoni, Victor Ehikamenor, Fauzi Fahm, Ore Disu, Omoligho Udenta, Yegwa Ukpo, Oliver Enwonwu, Dudu Emmanuel, Stefanie Theuretzbacher, Uche Uzorka, Wura Ogunji, Olu Ajayi, Fidelis Odogwu and Uche Okpa Iroha.

“After the Artist Retreat, finalist will have the following three months to execute their final projects. Process photos are required throughout their production and works must be completed Friday before grand finale date to allow installation images to be shot. The final exhibition and judging ceremony will take place later this year which will play host to a judging panel of distinguished arts professionals led by Prof. El Anatsui, will deliberate to select the final three winners.

Prizes to be won are as follows: First place will win the sum of two million naira plus solo exhibition at African Artists’ Foundation. The contestant with the outstanding concept will win the sum of one million naira while the contestant with the outstanding production will also go home with the sum of one million naira.

The completion is sponsored by Nigerian breweries Plc, coordinated by African Artists’ Foundation (AAF) and supported by Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) and Samsung Electronics West Africa.