By Japhet Alakam

MEMBERS of the Nigerian art community were united for a common cause last Thursday as they gathered to celebrate the life and times of an accomplished art scholar, curator, Olabisi Silva, for an evening of tributes at Freedom Park in Lagos.

* Olabisi Silva posing in a makeshift photo studio in Bamako, 2015, Photo: Tamar Garb

The event which was well attended was led by Nollywood veteran and sister of the deceased, Joke Silva, friends, family and fans who shared their experiences with the well-travelled art lover.

Also present were executives of pan-African artist network, Arterial Nigeria, Poet and culture enthusiast, Aduke Gomez, and director of SMO Contemporary Art, Sandra Obiago, and many others  who delivered the first round of rousing eulogies.

All the speakers gave testimony about a woman who defined an era of artistry in Nigeria.

Worried at the state of Nigerian art after her return in the early 2000s, Silva took it upon herself to champion a structured and academic approach to the art industry in Nigeria.

The audience was also treated to series of unfinished documentaries that depicted different sides of the celebrated art icon. The documentaries depicted Bisi Silva as a teacher, author, mentor, curator and family woman.

One of the videos documents her work with world-renowned artist, Yinka Shonibare, whose works explore cultural identity, colonialism and post-colonialism during his visit to Lagos.

Another one showed her as a teacher urging artists to appreciate and understand the importance of proper documentation of their work and creative process.

The tributes night also featured a stirring performance of Grammy award-winning artiste, Frank Sinatra’s My Way.

Some of the tributes

For Tamar Garb: “I cannot imagine the African contemporary art scene without Bisi Silva. For at least the last 15 years, she has been one of its brightest lights. Based on the continent, in the Lagos she loved, she worked tirelessly to advance contemporary artists and activists, writers and curators whose work speaks to the material density, the cultural specificity and historical richness of Africa while being fully cognisant (and ever critical) of its place in a changing world. There was nothing parochial or provincial about Bisi. She railed against the term ‘African Contemporary Art’ – as if Africa is a locus that is separate from where ‘real’ contemporary art happens – and preferred to think about ‘contemporary art from Africa’, seeing the cities of Lagos, Johannesburg, Maputo or Dakar as equivalent centres of cutting-edge art production as New York, London or Beijing.”

For Jude Anogwih, a former associate Curator at CCA: “It’s pertinent to note here that Africa to Bisi was not an irrational or unreachable landmass. Bisi’s support and influence on the younger generation of artists and curators as well as her established respect and professional relationship with the wider communities in the arts and of course, politics on the continent and beyond, made it less tasking to reach out easily across the continent and draw in respective opinions, results, and input.

Her unconditional commitment to the arts/artists made the world orbit effortless at 9 McEwen Street, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria!

“Bisi was more than a curator. Her passion to inform all, young and old, was incomparable. She enjoyed the robust conversations that everyone brought to the table on persistent issues around contemporary art and growth.”

Renowned textile artist and gallery owner, Chief (Mrs) Nike Okundaye, who expressed shock at the news said: “I am profoundly shocked to learn of the demise of our good friend, Bisi Silva. She was an epitome of art and culture in this great country of ours, Nigeria. And she was a wonderful inspiration to all, young and old, in the arts sector. We will miss her dearly. May her gentle soul rest in peace.”

Writer and editor, Molara Wood said: “This is a huge blow to visual art and the curatorial field in Nigeria. I respected Bisi Silva, everyone respected her. She made immense contributions; and her founding of the Centre for Contemporary Art at McEwen Street in Yaba did much to transform art discourse. This was a very focussed arts curator of unerring seriousness, very sound. We didn’t have many like her in visual art. Rest in peace. “

Alice Tomdio: RIP #BisiSilva. “Incredibly talented curator with a peculiar eye for amazing art. Indulged me so many times with my novice knowledge. Ever patient and generous with her mind and love for all things art. Life is so fleeting.“