By Japhet Alakam

At the Camp, one of the works for the auction by Kolade Oshinowo

The fortunes of most Nigerian and West African artists will change for good as ArtHouse Contemporary Limited , a company that is committed to establishing regular venue for the sale of modern and contemporary Nigerian and African art offers for sale 101 works of paintings, sculpture, mixed media works, prints and photographs by well known and emerging artists.

The auction which is coming on the heels of the success of the last edition that saw the work of Demas Nwoko’s sculpure,Wiseman selling at the hammer price of 9 million and other previous editions that saw total sales going up to 80 percent of the lots, is another bold move by the company in its bid to maintaining her lead in the evolving Nigeria’s third tier visual art market.

Addressing the press in Lagos last week, the Director of Arthouse, Kavita Chellarams officially announced that the 6th edition of its Auction of Modern and Contemporary Art will take place in Lagos, the commercial capital of Nigeria on Monday, 9th of May 2011. The sale according to her, will precede the open viewing that will take place from Saturday, 7th May till Monday 9th May at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

According to Chellerams, this edition promises to be great as presently, Africa seems to be the big birth right for arts as curators are coming from outside to buy their works. “This is the first time in history that a museum in UK will be coming to Nigeria to acquire works.” she said..

On her part, Nana Sonoiki, the Personal Assistant to the director noted that “in line with the demand of our clients, we have tailored our mind on artists with quality works that speak for themselves. So collectors will have the opportunity of seeing works of new artists whose works have not been shown before.”

New works included in the auction for the first time include; Jacob Jari, Krydz Ikwuemesi, Obi Ekwenchi, Adeola Balogun, Sade Thompson, Macia Kure, Demola Ogunajo, Segun Aiyesan, Oladele Awosoga, Nyemike Onwuka and, popular photographer, Tam Fiofori. Also Owusu Ankomah (whose work was recently acquired by the British museum), Victor Butler and Kofi Asemnyinah all from Ghana will also feature for the first time.

The company is hoping that these and other pieces, including some rare and unusual works by the masters like Ben Enwonwu, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ben Osawe, Gani Odutokun and Kolade Oshinowo will garner significant attention from buyers and observers when the bids begin.

Speaking about the works, Kavita Chellarams posited that the works included by Ben Enwonwu, arguably the best selling name in Nigeria art , consisting of two bronze sculptures and one oil painting are the finest works of the late artist that she has had the opportunity to value and sell.

And also photography which made its way to the auction in the last auction will also feature and the likes of Tam Fiofori, photojournalist and renowned film maker, who is basking in the success of the launch of his book on the coronation of the Oba of Benin will be there.

The journey so far

The history of the auction so far has been a modest one, at the first edition, a Bruce Onobrakpeya mixed-media panel “Greater Nigeria” went for the highest hammer price of N9.2 million. The price of the highest selling work (Yusuf Grillo’s oil on board painting, titled “Blue Moon”) at the second auction on November 19, 2008 went for N8.8 million hammer price.

The global recession that affected the art scene forced the price to go down in the third edition held on April 6, 2009 compared to the second edition’s net sales, which totaled N77, 715,000, the third edition (the only one held in 2009) had a more modest total sale of N53, 893,896. Even the highest selling work ,a Ben Enwonwu painting went for N4.5 million.

Another work for the auction by Erahboh Emokpae

In the fourth edition held on March 1, 2010 the figures picked up slightly and recorded N64, 920880 net sales.

However with the return of normalcy at the fifth edition held on November 22, 2010, Demas Nwoko’s sculpture, “The Wise Man”, sold for a whooping hammer price of N9 million. As with every edition, this forthcoming edition of the auction comes with a greater package ,and with promises of something new.