BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

The mood of everything at the Aina Onabolu complex of the Lagos branch of the National Gallery of Art last week was gloomy. It was not only gloomy, but simply put: displeasing to the heart.

This displeasure could easily be discerned from the faces of members of staff, who were parked like sardines in  what used to be the exhibition hall, as their make shift work place, the journalists , who were invited for a meeting with visiting  Director General of the agency and most especially, troubled looking, Muku Abdullahi, the Director General, who as much as he tried to douse the tension  palpable hanging like an ominous cloudy sky with his flowing white babariga  achieved little in hiding his  own disappointment with the State of infrastructural dilapidation around the once, beehive of cultural and visual activity centre.

Though, Abdullah’s relative new regime has since last year began renovation works at the residency and library sections of the gallery, but as sad as it is, years of neglect coupled with starvation of funding of the culture sub sector   has resulted in the eventual collapse of the imposing cultural symbol of the Aina Onabolu complex, the traditionally constructed pyramid thatched Cultural hall of the Lagos gallery office.

The Art home recently caved in as a result of one of the devastating rain storms that wrecked havoc in many parts of Lagos as well as to what one source who would not like to be named attributed to poor maintenance culture.

Built during the era of pioneer Director General of the National Gallery of Art, Dr Chike Dike, the complex, which in its glorious era became the sign post of reference for many visitors to the Iganmu culture home has over the years become a shadow of its former self as a result of wear and tear.

NGA' s Cultural Hall, Lagos

While different offices in the complex suffer from general infrastructural lack and decay including; roof leaking and poor working  facilities, the most important damages are recorded in the number of art works that may have been affected by  weather elements like  moist and  humidity caused by the  rains and lack of storage facilities and space.

Despite this disturbing challenge and frustration, it is however important to note that the relative new regime of Abdullahi Muku has taken up the gauntlet to rescue what observers describe, “as the badly erected structures, which may not have taken into consideration architectural principles of design.”

It was about this essential task that  Muku came to  Lagos last week to intimate culture editors about his organization’s programmes lined up to help reposition the ailing sick home.

Looking worried, the Adamawa State born technocrat explained that the state of the complex is responsible for the slow pace of activities in the previously art destination  hub of Nigeria.

According to him, “the poor state of facilities at the Lagos office is a big headache, which makes it not a very ideal environment for regular shows.”

However, the Director General, while attributing delay in release of budget as major handicap to the Gallery’s effort at executing most of its project, told  journalist  that it is the resolve of his agency to restore the glory of the fallen complex, even as he assured of a total rehabilitation of the entire complex.

Not deterred by the sad look of  the collapsed exhibition hall that bent so low like an over fruit laden mango branches, Abdullahi , also revealed plans to open new out station offices of the gallery in Enugu and Kano States.

Asked why indulging in the establishment of new offices when existing ones are suffering challenges, he explained that the act that enabled the creation of the gallery requires that an office of the gallery is opened in each State of the nation’s thirty six states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Also planned to take place this year is the gallery’s world art tour popularly known as, NAVITOUR. This programme, which is aimed at exposing Nigerian art to the world has in the past, toured South Korea, USA and Egypt. According to Muku, it is most likely that this year, the art tour will take Nigerian arts to Spain.

Also, as a move to improve the study and appreciation of art in Nigeria, the head of National Gallery said that plans are also under way to hold in the year, Art Workshop for Art Teachers. This effort according to him, will augment the gallery’s now rested programme called, the k12 which was target at student artists.