By JAPHET ALAKAM

It was indeed a beauty to watch as art patrons, artists, promoters and others converged at Quintessence Gallery, Falomo, Lagos for the first of its kind exhibition by Swedish based artists and founder of Modernafricanart , Lande Anjous-Zygmunt as she brought her wealth of experience to the country in a solo exhibition tagged African on the floor, an exhibition of special artistic painted rugs. The exhibition which opened last Saturday with the launch of a book by the artist titled Africa on the floor: A new Voice and Medium for Contemporary African Art will run till  22nd of September, 2012.

The exhibition featured a collection of 20 hand made rugs, designed with the works of six African artists and a video of  the rug making process.

Through the exhibition, Lande who learnt the art of  rug making in far away Sweden through two brothers who has been in the business for over 3000 years ago and  has been looking for a way to give the artists a new voice and medium decided to bring the exhibition to Nigeria as a way of projecting their culture with that of Africa.

The rugs and the book represent a hybrid, where the similarities and differences in culture come to light, as the rug is culturally important to the Asian, painting is a form propagated by Europeans, while the artists fuse African culture with their art.

Displayed at the hall were a collection of an exclusive range of rugs designed by the artists with the finest quality wool from the Himalayas and master hand-knotted by artisans in the 2000 age old Tibetan tradition. Taking the viewers round the works, Anjous-Zygmunt explained that African rugs are no longer merely floor coverings.

“African rugs certainly are great for use on floors. But, they really have become the African home décor items of choice in this day and age. Indeed, many people who truly love great art are using African rugs for wall decoration.” she explained.

Continuing, she stated that the rugs are hand crafted on all levels. From the production of the wool to the unique design and crafting associated with each of these African rugs, everything literally is undertaken by hand and on a custom made basis.  “ these rugs are rugs for life, with their extraordinary texture and visual richness, they will be used, appreciated and passed on from generation to generation.” She added.

Special features

But one special feature of the rugs are that they are specially designed with the work of the African artists, they are Bruce Onobrakpeya, Muraina Oyelami, Nike Davies Okundaye, Sam Ovraiti, Ehi Obinyan and Tola Wewe. They are painted in an innovative yet ancient form by Tibetan, Indian and Afghan artists with some of the works of the artist.

Each rug has been painstakingly hand made over the process of several months, having made an arduous journey from the Himalayas to Europe and finally to the exhibition in Lagos. Such works include, the work with design of Ibadan Dun and Olukun (2008) by Nike Davies Okundaye,  Dance in the bush of ghost by Bruce Onabrakpeya, Ileto(20040 by Muriana Oyelani, Market Scene and Eyo Festival by Ehi Obinyan and others.

Other features of the rugs according to her is that they are functional as it has provision for the floor, can be hanged or put on the table so it is left for the owner to decide what he/she wants to use it for

The touring exhibition which will go Abuja after the Lagos show according to Lande is aimed at returning African art to the context of everyday function, and through the art rug collection also celebrates traditional artists the world over and encourages the breaking down of boundaries as well as the creation of wholly new categories. This collaboration brings together three very different continents; Asian craftsmanship meets vibrant African design in Europe. This collection celebrates the past even while refusing to be bound to old forms.

The exhibition also featured the launch of a catalogue of 68 pages, with over 50 full-colour photographs and illustrations which outlines the background to the collection and its place in the contemporary art world.

Speaking at the event, renowned art collector, Yemisi Shyllon, master print maker, Bruce Onabrakpeya, Sam Ovraiti, JD Ojeikere, Prof. Grace Alele Williams and others commended the artist for her novel idea. At least for those who do not take delight in buying paintings, they now have a choice as they can buy the beautiful designed rugs, one of them stated.