From Presidential Inauguration Exhibition…
By Mcphilips Nwachukwu
There is no doubt that Nigeria is really moving, and moves to seemingly right direction. This can be seen from the flurry of activities taking place as part of activities marking the Presidential inauguration taking place this week.
One of the works titled National Issues by Jerry Buhari
Apart from the Lagos, President Meet with a Cross Section of the Youths, a programme which took place early in the week, at which the President interacted and thanked Nigerian youths for their immense and reasonable support to his electoral bid, the on going Presidential inauguration exhibition at the Shehu Yar’Ádua Centre, Abuja erases any doubt as to whether all the electoral promises of President Jonathan were not made to score political points.
Tagged, Nigeria, Our Nigeria, the exhibition, which showcases the works of about twenty artists according to the Minister of Tourism , Culture and National Orientation, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq” is the second exhibition the President has attended in person in two months, all in effort to promote the creative industry.”
The first was a photo exhibition by George Esiri, which showcased President Jonathan in governance as seen through his lens. The photo artist, Esiri assigned himself the onerous task of photo- documenting the number one citizen.
The current exhibition, despite low turn out of viewers , which no doubt might be linked to security reasons makes significant statements about the direction of the culture industry and the commitment of Government in identifying with its potentials.
Apart from the fact that Nigeria, Our Nigeria exhibition harmonises the apparent parity between visual artists and their kinsmen in the plastic art of photography by bringing together in a very brilliant way the two groups to showcase their works at such an important historical moment, it also creates a platform to read and understand the generational template of Nigerian visual art history.
It is a sight to behold, when the works of master print maker, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Kolade Oshinowo share space with the works of Jerry Buhari, Olu Amoda, Ndidi Dike and Onyema Offedu Okeke in the same way the photographic works of J.D.Okhai- Ojeikere shares space with the works of Baba Shettima, Tam Fiofori, Don Barber, George Oshodi, George Esiri, Adolphus Opara and TY Bello.
Though the works are not grouped in any generation order, but it is very clear that the exhibition is designed to accommodate the diverse groups, who through their arts attempt to capture and document the collective memory of the nation.
While for instance the works of Baba Shettima, a retired Federal Government Chief Photographer’s entries take the viewer through the colonial and post colonial history of Nigeria, Onobrakpeya and Tam Fiofori’s works take us through the country’s rich and fading cultural values.
The works in their different media tell an aspect of the Nigerian tale: our environment, the economy, infrastructure and all that. And these tales are brilliantly relayed in clear colours and arresting images.
However, the exhibition also raises important questions: The President, who no doubts means well for the arts and culture sector, earlier in his meeting with culture stakeholders agrees that one of the plights of the sector is the imposition of wrong heads to pilot the activities of the sector.” I think certain institutions in the sector are headed by wrong persons; and that we need to address. “He said.
Based on this position, one begins to wonder why an exhibition of this historic magnitude does not have an official curator. Also, what is the input of the Ministry of Culture; and especially, the National Gallery of Arts, NGA, and Society of Nigerian Artists, SNA?
These questions are begging for answers. Congrats, Mr. President
