BY MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

The tragedy that befalls traditional African arts and artifacts resulting in the  poor documentation and understudy of such works by their collectors may  not be the lot of contemporary and modern African arts  going by the present collaboration between Tate Gallery, London and one of Nigeria’s new generation banks, Guaranty Trust Bank.

This much was revealed last week at the Bank’s headquarter in Lagos during an interactive session between representatives of the bank, Tate Gallery and culture journalists.

Organised  around the theme, Redefining International Arts  history through the Role of African Arts, the session that involved the participation of Elvira Dyangani Ose, Curator International Art, Tate Gallery, Alessandra Bognetti, Advisor for Gtbank on International Art &Support Strategy and  Mrs. Lola Odedina, Group Head Corporate Communication &Manager External Affairs, GtBank,  discussed how the present effort will help configure contemporarily and modern African arts into global arts narrative.

To make this project possible, it was revealed that Guaranty Trust Bank  will provide what is called , “ acquisition fund” for  Tate Gallery to collect for study  and  research broad art works from different  artistic genres across the continent to be kept at the African stand at the Tate.

Besides the collection, the fund  is hoped  to facilitate annual project across countries in the continent where symposiums, exhibitions, performances and workshops would be organized with the view to discovering hidden talents.

Speaking at the occasion, Ose explained that , “ The annual project will further develop the conceptual framework proposed in Tate’s Africa strategy; looking at theoretical aspects and cultural, historical and contemporary, non- collectable materials.

“The project will constitute an organic and experimental platform, featuring emerging artists and exploring recent practices that propose new types of participation and social engagement.”

The acquisition fund according to  her is so important because it is not possible for Tate as an international gallery of reference to “ tell universal story of art without the presence of African artists.”

Prior before now, the discourse of African art as it  is in the discourse of traditional African creativity has remained in the margin or as some critics would say, as “ footnotes”

But through the present collaborative effort and interest, the landscape of African arts would be widened through intensive re-engagement of the creators and their works.

“ The project will invite local and international audiences to engage artists, curators and scholars to look at the current cultural and artistic productions in Africa.” She said.

Ose further revealed  that the project apart from leading to” the production of knowledge by building expertise that exists in the continent, will also challenge history and institutional framework in both sides.”

Guaranty Trust Bank is one of the leading promoters of the arts in Nigeria. In the last few years it has successfully pulled through  two international exhibitions; Yinka Shonibare’s Nelson’s Ship and Chris Ofili’s The Holy Virgin Mary.