By Japhet Alakam

It is going to be another great opportunty for art lovers, critics, collectors and students of arts as the Department of Fine and Applied Arts of the Delta State University, Abraka storms the Lagos art circle with a retrospective exhibition tagged Visual Symphony: An Exhibition of Paintings, Sculptures, Ceramics, Textiles and Graphic Designs of the Lecturers and Ph.D Studio students of the Delta State University, Abraka.

Prof. E. A. Arubayi, V. C. Delta State University Abraka.

The exhibition which opens at Quintessence Gallery Falomo from the 24th of September till 15th of October according to the art loving Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor E. A. Arubayi, “is unique in many respects as it brings for public viewing the creative exploits and artistic developments that have evolved over time since the establishment of the Department in 1976.”

Briefing newsmen in preparation for the exhibition, the Head of department, Fine and Applied Arts of the School, Prof Grace N. Ojie stated that “Visual Symphony is an exhibition of “Masters” and “Apprentices” of the Abraka School of Art and as it is with art school or individual artist we have been having exhibitions in other places within the country and we think it is nice for us to come to Lagos which is the commercial centre of the country so that art lovers there will know about our exploits and creative prowess.”

The exhibition which is the first time the school is coming to Lagos with their works will feature the works of about 20 artists in many instruments, tools, media in three or more visual movements by the lecturers and the Phd students, with few works of a year two student that distinguished himself.

They include: Prof. Egonwa Osa D, Prof. Grace Ojie, Kunle Adeyemi, Edewor Nelson, Tobenna Okwuosa, Njoku Kenneth, Ekong Clement, Esimike Uche, Imafidon Evans, Okpu Oghale and others.

Continuing, she pointed out that the exhibits being showcased illustrate a synergy of intellectual prowess and professional dexterity which can only be resulting from a reasoned understanding and relationship between the master and the apprentice. Be this as it may, individuality which is a prime character of artistic production can still be found in the products of the apprentices.

The exhibition according to her, therefore, “attempts to show that a Ph.D degree in the studio does not detract or diminish professional competence in practice. If anything, it invigorates professional competence by the intercourse that comes into existence when academic intellectuality is married to creative prowess.” She added.

On the choice of the theme, Ojie said that a number of works based on the Niger Delta, the environment, inspiration from activities in the school and the state informed that as they taught that this is the best way to express themselves.

A look at the works displayed shows the stylistic diversity, multimedia and thematic variety of works evolving from a tortuous journey that imbues them with elements that integrate the past and the present.

But missing are the works of the new media an issue Ojie disclosed that the school has such works in their system but did not come with such works as they limited their works on the level of the space available.

In his comments, one of the exhibiting artists and a lecturer in the school, Prof Egonwa described it “as a visual banquet that celebrates idiomorphic and technomorphic metropolitanism, stylistic conurbation and convergence of art making ideas.”

To him, though it is a group show, the works represent each artists’ individualism even as the artists share technical skills, media and rules of art making adjudged to be the preserve of notables amongst them.

Delta State University which is the first institution to offer Phd programmes in the studio disciplines in partnership with Quintessence gallery intend to use this exhibition to serve as guarantee of sustainable growth and development in the visual arts disciplines.