BY JAPHET ALAKAM

As Arthouse Contemporary Limited, one of the foremost art promoters in the country holds the eighth edition of its economic promising art  auction tomorrow , what will be upper most in the mind of many who have followed the developments in the third tier art market will be whose work will win the day?

Will it be the works of the masters as was the case in previous editions or those of the upcoming artists as the hammer goes for the 108 lots on offer.

Dance in the bush of Ghosts, 1988 by Bruce Onabrakpeya , one of the works for the auction

The auction which is coming on the heels of the past successful series of art auctions organized by the Center, which in previous editions have not only inaugurated a vibrant culture of artistic interactive session between artists and art buyers, but more importantly, has financially empowered some notable and upcoming artists, whose works have raked in good sums of money in the auctions will hold at the Wheatbaker Hotel, 4 Onitolo Road Ikoyi in Lagos. The open viewing  held on Saturday 5th May and Sunday 6th May at the same venue.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos last week, Director of Chellaram, the organizers of the auction, Kavita Chellaram explained that a total of 108 Lots of predominantly Nigerian and Ghanaian artists in varied media of painting, sculpture, mixed media works and photography will be put up for sale .

According to her, over 400 works were submitted from where the organisers selected 108 aesthetic and quality works that can meet any collector’s demand. The auction promises as usual  to feature a number of fine and rare works by heritage and well-known Nigerian and Ghanaian artists such as Demas Nwoko, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ben Enwonwu, Abiodu Olaku, dele jegede and Akinola Lasekan and others.

Continuing, she stated that based on the need to assist the young artists to grow by showcasing their great talents to the world , this edition will also feature for the first time new artist like; Ade Adekola, Ebenezer Akinola, Gab Awusa, Veronica Ekpei, Taiye Idahor, Jefferson Jonahan, Ade Odunfa, Sunday Ogbebor, Abraham Oghobase, Tonie Okpe, Sangotoye Olayinka, Chike Onuorah and Fidel Oyiogu.

Chellram further stated that the marriage of both the old and new  artists is meant  to enable the old and new collectors to see the works by new artists in addition to the ones they are familiar with.

From the preview of the works of artists on parade, this edition is expected to generate more interest especially with the assemblage of the big masquerades like Ben Enwonwu, Demas Nwoko, and Bruce Onabrakpeya etc.

As John Dabney, the English auctioneer  raises his hammer that day, buyers and art collectors will have thread of conflict rule their imagination. Since, at the 7th edition Ben Enwonwu’s work,Anyanwu went for 28 Million , Demas Nwoko’s work, The Wiseman took the day at the 5th edition, will be Enwonwu or Nwoko be the clincher of this edition or is any miracle going to sway the hammer on the lot of any of the upcoming artists?

Arthouse Contemporary Limited which has been in the vanguard of promoting art through the third tier market was founded by Kavita Chellaram in 2007 as a venue for the transparent sale of fine Nigerian and West African arts. From all indications, the public nature of the event allows for greater transparency of pricing and wider exposure of art to a broader and global audience.

The previous auction made a total sale, including the buyer’s premium of N1l4 ,447,000 and 86 out of 107 Lots were sold (80%) .