By  PRISCA SAM-DURU
The National Arts Competition(NAC)  organised by the African Artists’ Foundation(AAF)  with sponsorship from the Nigerian Breweries  which was inaugurated in 2008 with the theme, Unbreakable Nigerian Spirit has so far experienced very exciting and colourful journey as this year’s edition witnessed a massive turn out of participants and guests at the Civic Centre, venue of the exhibition.

In this fourth edition with theme, Documenting changes in our Nation, which held last week, a total of 350 entries which were initially received were screened to 12 finalists who in no small way, creatively interpreted the  negative and positive changes, that have taken place in Nigeria, since independence.

The twelve finalists, Babson Ajibade, Jude Anogwih, Gerald Chukwuma, Chris Echeta, Taiye Idahor, Samuel Palmtree Ifeayinchukwu, Chidinma Nnoron, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Folashade Ogunlade, Erasmus Onyishi, Olayinka Sangotoye and Uche Uzorka/Chike Obeagu, according to veteran artist Sam Ovraiti, are the future of art in Nigeria as the array of works they exhibited  he said, beat his imagination.

They were each given a certificate prior to the final issuance of prize money to the three winners of the competition.

Some of  the titles of works were Glimpses of our past, oil on canvas painting/installation by Folashade Ogunlade, which intelligently analysed the metamorphosis that the naira has undergone in the history of Nigeria. Others were, Turn by turn by Taye Idahor, The Termite Hill and Life inside the Colony by Chris Echeta; Owo, Up NEPA, The Economy 1+1, all by Olayinka Sangotoye.

While the organisers confessed not envying the panel of judges who comprised Kavita Chellarams of Art House Auction, Sam Ovraiti, Italian born Caline Chagoury, Femi Akinsanya, an art collector, Femi Lijadu, Marc-Andre Schmatal and Albert Esiri, due to the stunning presentations of the artists, which makes it quite difficult for one to make choices.

At long last,  the judges make their choice, based on the criteria for selection which considered the work’s relevance to the theme, technical and esthetic quality, all round impression and creativity, and the 3rd position with prize money of one million naira, went to Olayinka Sangotoye ; Gerald Chukwuma who came second, clinched One million and five hundred thousand naira while the duo of Uche Uzorka and Chike Obeagu who presented a collaborative work, titled  Nigeria’s past, present and the future carried the day with two million naira.

The winners were announced by the special guest of honour, Chimamanda Adiche.

MD/CEO of  the Nigerian Breweries  Nicolaas Vervelde said that the organisation’s involvement with the competition was part of its commitment to the promotion of creativity, arts and artists in Nigeria, adding that the programme was one of their strategic corporate initiative towards youth empowerment through talent development.

“It was designed as a platform for discovery of creative arts talents and for exposing them to national appreciation”. He said.

Speaking to the press, Uche who couldn’t  hide his excitement for the feat said he has been  Chike’s partner in the profession for ten years. According to him, they were both mates at the University of Nigeria Nsukka and both graduated as  Fine Artists. Uche noted that art is neither all about money or winning but about participation in the very thing one feels fulfilled doing.

Their work, a multimedia  installation, Nigeria’s past, present and the future, was a meticulous production that incorporated a whole lot of ideas and issues through pictures that showed victims of Jos crisis, bomb explosions, the Nigerian civil war, devalued naira etc  and also made use of  quality materials for illustrations that carefully and comprehensively traced the vicissitudes  of the nation right from independence till date, as well as  expectations.