Thursday, 23 August 2018

Terra Kulture receives TripAdvisor certificate of excellence

Terra Kulture receives TripAdvisor certificate of excellence

 By Prisca Sam-Duru

 Leading arts, culture, lifestyle and educational center in Nigeria, Terra Kulture has been awarded the 2018 TripAdvisor  Certificate of Excellence. Now in its eighth year, the award celebrates businesses that have earned great traveller reviews on the TripAdvisor platform over the past year. Certificate of excellence recipients over the years include attractions, restaurants and accommodations located all over the world that have continually delivered quality customer experience.The certificate of excellence accounts for the quality and quantity of reviews submitted by travellers on TripAdvisor over a 12-month period. To qualify, a business must maintain an overall TripAdvisor bubble rating of at least four out of five, have a minimum number of reviews and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Speaking on the award, Founder of  Terra Kulture,  Bolanle Austen-Peters said,   “It gives us great pleasure to announce that we have just been awarded the  2018 Certificate of Excellence  from  TripAdvisor. Terra Kulture is a multiple TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence recipient and we’d like to thank  our customers, art enthusiasts, sponsors and patrons for your unflinching support over the past 15 years. We couldn’t possibly have done all this without you” Vice President of Industry Marketing, TripAdvisor,  Heather Leisman noted that  “TripAdvisor is excited to announce the recipients of the 2018 Certificate of Excellence, which celebrates experiences and other travel businesses that have consistently received strong ratings on the world’s largest travel site”.This recognition allows us to publicly honour businesses that are actively engaging with customers and using feedback to help travellers identify and confidently book the perfect trip” she said.

The Lagos monument sculptures could have been better – Barry

The Lagos monument sculptures could have been better – Barry 

 …says the right artists were not contracted to do the job 
By Prisca Sam-Duru



 Nzennaya Barry Ikechukwu is a Fine Art teacher and full time studio artist. He studied Fine and Applied Arts and graduated from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Anambra State as the best painting student with distinction in 2010. As an artist, he loves his expression to have no bounds, but was fascinated by the use of shapes and how they interact in creating forms and being used in the expression of his imaginative prowess. Barry was mentored by one of the most prolific Nigerian horse painters, Abdulsalam Abdulkareem, but was greatly influenced by the works of the great Yusuf Grillo, Sam Ebohon and Donald Onuoha. In this exclusive encounter, Barry shares how it all began and the journey so far. 

Tell us about your journey into visual art.. 
Actually when I was growing up, there was no orientation for me but I had the instinct in me that I can draw, that is I had artistic trait in me. I remember when I was in Primary three and I used to design on my textbooks. There was no fine art in our school curriculum, no encouragement. So, I was just drawing subconsciously. On getting home, I received serious flogging from my parents for drawing on my textbooks. To make matters worse, an uncle who was supporting my education advised me to stop drawing and face my studies. So I decided I would become an economist but like we say, man proposes and God disposes. So in 2005, while trading in Aspamda, I saw a painting by a student from Lagos State Polytechnic and that inspired me to know that I could actually study fine arts in school. I got admission into Federal Polytechnic, Oko. Upon completion of NYSC in 2012, I went to Abdulsalam Studio and since then, art has been an adventure for me. What are the sources of your inspiration? 
I draw inspiration from life. Waking up everyday gives me strength to paint. It makes me think deeper because I do a lot of conceptual paintings, things that entail a lot of magnetic works. I like to do things on shapes, manipulative things, things that deal with creativity. But my kind of art has no bounds, as in expression. I don’t see myself being limited to a particular kind of painting. Music is also part of my inspiration. I love country music a lot.  It makes me create better. If you take music out of me, you take a little bit painting out of me. 
What are the messages in your works? 
One of my paintings auctioned at the recent Terra Kulture MyDrim Gallery (TKMG) is titled: Contemplation. It’s a depiction of two images, man and woman. People regard it as Adam and Eve but my message in the work is on divorce and family issues. I believe charity begins at home. I believe the problems of our country have roots in the home. It has to do with the way children are trained and how parents react to issues. This takes me back to the Garden of Eden and all that transpired there. So I feel if there’s unity, love, respect, honesty and understanding in the family, the nation will be great. That’s the kind of messages I send across to my audience. 
What are your specific reasons for being at TKMG?
 As an artist, it is necessary to showcase my works. If I just lock myself up in the studio, imagine and create things and do not show them to the world, then the message is not complete. It’s just like the gospel; if it is not preached, then how will the world know about it?
 Was that your first time at TKMG auction? 
Yes, it was my first time. And I’m happy that the works, Contemplation and Forecasters were sold. I expect that the auction would open up more doors for me and for arts generally so that the government as well as corporate establishments and individuals will see reasons to invest in the sector.
 Would it be correct to say that people are okay with upcoming artists’ level of creativity considering how they fare at auctions? 
I think these days the acceptance of upcoming artists is encouraging. But I also think that young artists need to put in all their efforts. They need to do exceptional things, think outside the box and nothing can hold them back. 
What is your view on the state of the industry as a whole? 
The industry is growing but I’ll not say I’m okay with the way it is. I expect it to improve more.
 In what ways do you mean? 
We need funding and for government to take the sector more seriously. The government is helping in one way. Look at the monuments, sculptural piece that Lagos State is approving. It shows that government is willing to help visual arts. But then it’s unfortunate that the people that would have done the work better we’re not contracted. These are monuments that would stay for long and also boost tourism, so they needed to have been done better. I know it’s a system problem. 
Did you have any challenge that threatened your dream? 
As I said, art is a serious adventure for me. It’s not easy for a student from the East to come to Lagos and start practising art. I passed through serious challenges. I suffered hunger at the beginning. Things were more than tough and it took me like five  years before I began to find my feet. But all that added improvement to my works. Access to funds is a major challenge to young artists. If getting loans are easy, they will do better. We also need something like an open studio, that’s a craft centre that accommodates every artist. 
What are your future plans? 
I should be an international artist, exhibiting all over the world, touring the globe and waving the flag of the country is top priority. I want to be a public artist with a large studio because right now, I have some students I’m training in Abdulsalam Studio just like Universal Studio of Arts.

Thursday, 9 August 2018

Kwubiri’s motionEmotion reflects power of music on creative soul

Kwubiri’s motionEmotion reflects power of music on creative soul 

By Prisca Sam-Duru 

THIS summer, SMO Contemporary Art is delighted to curate a major solo exhibition motionEmotion, by Germany-based artist, Chidi Kwubiri, which is being presented by Gallery 1957 in Accra this week. MotionEmotion is the culmination of a life-long dream of Kwubiri’s, in which he speaks to the power of music on the creative soul. The exhibition of 18 spectacular large canvases and a performance piece reflect the spirit dance of celebration, joy, melancholy, energy, hope, and protest that music evokes in people wherever they gather. Born in 1966 in Umuahia, Kwubiri grew up in Nigeria and relocated to Germany in his twenties. 




He is a graduate of the Art Academy of Dusseldorf where he gained his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Fine Arts, and has spent the last 25 years exhibiting globally at prestigious galleries and museums in France, Germany, the United States, Russia, Belgium, South Africa and his native Nigeria. He has featured in selected group and solo exhibitions which include:LebensWerkArbeit, Museum Am Dom, Trier (2018);Ich bin, weil du bist,Museum Am Dom, Trier (2017); Italia Docet, 56th Venice Biennale, Venice (2015);Mother Tongue, Temple Muse, Lagos (2013); Theme Africa, Phillips de Pury, New York (2010);and The Internationals, Millenia Gallery, Orlando (2004). In motionEmotion, Kwubiri takes us on a journey across sound, rhythm, performance and dance, by presenting paintings which speak to the outer and inner manifestations of music on identity, the rise of freedom movements, and the impact of lyrics on society across different generations. Presented by Gallery 1957 in Accra, Ghana and curated by Sandra Mbanefo Obiago in collaboration with SMO Contemporary Art, the works  introduce a multi-layered, almost opaque world of colour and silhouette that gently seeps into visual consciousness. Utilising his characteristic dripping paint technique on large canvases, Kwubiri reveals expertly rendered hazy outlines of figures in motion and dance, in a sea of minute dots and drips. Kwubiri presents a new monochromatic body of work with minimalist colour highlights alongside his signature colour palette, which reinforce the power of unity and hope against the socio-political tensions surrounding global immigration issues. His bold interpretations also touch on the impact of music on global youth movements by interpreting cross-generational rhythms, culture and political consciousness. The exhibition at Gallery 1957 shows Kwubiri on a journey of sensory memory through paintings of cultural crusaders – such as afrobeat legend, FelaKuti and reggae prophet, Bob Marley – juxtaposed against contemporary dances with their roots in Africa,including twerking, popping & locking, hip hop, and rap. motionEmotion is set against a backdrop of live music, freestyle instrumental and art-based performance. “We are delighted to present Nigerian art to a broader audience across Africa,” said Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the Founder and Artistic Director of SMO Contemporary Art. “We need more art institutions to collaborate across the continent, so that our amazing artists have a wider pool of collectors and supporters of their work.” The exhibition opened on Thursday, June 28th, and  ended July 30th, 2018  

NLNG announces longlist of 11 for 2018 Literature Prize …as power, politics dominate

NLNG announces longlist of 11 for 2018 Literature Prize 
…as power, politics dominate 

By Prisca Sam-Duru
The struggle for political control and power play dominated the longlist for the $100,000  Nigeria Prize for Literature, announced recently by the Advisory Board for the Prize. The Nigeria Prize for Literature is Africa’s most prestigious literary prize sponsored by Nigeria LNG Limited. The 2018 longlist of 11 plays chosen from 89 entries was selected by a panel of three judges led by Matthew Umukoro, Professor of Theatre Arts at the University of Ibadan. Other members of the panel include Mohammed Inuwa Umar-Buratai, Professor of Theatre and Performing Arts, and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria; and Ngozi Udengwu, a senior lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The Umukoro-led panel was appointed in February 2018 by the Prof. Ayo Banjo-led Advisory Board for the Nigeria Prize for Literature which has been administering the prize on behalf of Nigeria LNG Limited since 2010. Entries for the 2018 Prize were received by the judges in April 2018. Members of the Advisory Board for the Literature Prize, besides Professor Banjo, two-time Vice-Chancellor of Nigeria’s premier university, University of Ibadan, are Prof. Jerry Agada, former Minister of State for Education, former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors, and Professor Emeritus, Ben Elugbe, former President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters and president of the West-African Linguistic Society (2004-2013).    

I’ll turn tourism, arts and culture to major economy booster as Culture Minister — Ebohon

I’ll turn tourism, arts and culture to major economy booster as Culture Minister — Ebohon 

By Prisca Sam-Duru

 Sam Ebohon is the President of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria.  As a studio artist, Ebohon graduated in 1990 with HND (Higher National Diploma) from the prestigious Yaba College of Technology. His most identifiable works feature large criss-crossing strokes that abstract the subject matter. His vibrant brushstrokes bear a particular textual flourish often found in artworks by other graduates of the Yaba School. Ebohon is a respected member of the prestigious Society of Nigerian Artists. In 2009, he was awarded the Gold Medal Prize at the Caterina de Medici painting competition in Florence, Italy. His paintings are widely represented in local and international art collections. In this exclusive interview conducted during the TKMG annual auction preview at Terra Kulture, Lagos, he reveals his ambition in the industry and much more. Excerpts.



 You chose to be at TKMG auction, why? 
You have to always remain relevant, do your business because art is business. One has to make money. Having a platform like TKMG helps you do all that.

 First time at the Auction? 
No. I’ve been following them.

 How many works did you put up? 
Just one. It’s titled Response and Stimuli. 

Why was this your choice? 
That was the choice of TKMG. The mode of selection is that you submit a couple of works and they make their choice considering the work that goes with their theme. 

When did you become an artist?
 I can’t even tell when. It’s like…I don’t even know. How do you tell someone that you know, I’ve never been anything more than an artist. I’ve always wanted to be something else but art always pulls me back. 

Something else like what? 
You know while growing up and your father says you’ve got to be a doctor or lawyer. But professionally as an artist, it all began in 1990. That’s the year I graduated and since then, it’s been a long journey with group and solo exhibitions. 

What inspires you?
 Everything inspires me but mostly designs. I’m a design person so whatever gives me a design, it doesn’t have to be a human being, it can be an inanimate object. It can be anything but that which makes a beautiful design and inspires me.

 The genre you’re more comfortable with?
 Painting but very rarely in water colour. I still do those ones, but oils on canvass or board, that’s me. 

What kind of subject matter do you work on?
 I’d like to be considered as somebody that talks from the heart, on general issues. You see what art does to you is that it grips you and says, look you have to paint me and you have no choice. Sometimes you start a painting and you don’t even know why. It just appeals to you, you paint it and give it a title by fire by force(laughter). The other part is when I see something that affects me either positively or negatively. There’s a painting I’m working on now and it’s on fuel scarcity. It actually came to me during the fuel scarcity period. It’s about people suffering to buy fuel. There’s chaos at the station. So that prompted me to do a series I titled: Chaos. But unfortunately for me, every time I paint, I do so with vibrant colours with strokes, and my message most times, end up getting lost out of beauty. I mean buried in the beauty of the piece. So you have viewers misinterpreting the works and giving them titles outside the message.

 Why do you paint? 
Just to paint. I’ve always done that since I was little. 

The reception of upcoming artist? 
The history of art in Nigeria is right now from my point of view, there’s a break. By this I mean, the masters such as the Grillos, Onobrakpeyas, Oshinowos etc, those Zaria rebels who started this whole ‘struggle’, but in present time, we’re beginning to lose the history that followed them because we have people who are probably naive about which to consider first before the other. There’s a crop of people before the Grillos or Oshinowos, that is the Akandes, El Anatsui, Olaku,  they have their histories but they’ve locked them together. By doing that, there’s no history on the progression on the Olakus and now they’re mixing up the masters and upcoming artists together. This could be because the contemporary artists are exposed to auctions and international space because of Internet, they can sell works even as high as their predecessors. But let the history accommodate everyone. 

Thoughts on Nigerian art? 
Very vibrant. The world is focusing on Nigeria now.

 Really? 
Yes. The world is focusing on Nigeria as an art hub where people and creatives in the sense of art are thriving and we are happy about that. It wasn’t like this before. The industry can still do better. Unfortunately, we have politicians at the helm of affairs who have no inkling of what art/ culture should be about. So having government push is almost not there. But generally, the artists and few other people have been able to push it to a good position. We have young artists selling for  millions of naira, it wasn’t like that before. And those days you dare not say you want to be an artist because your father will flog hell into you. 

What else should government do to promote the industry? 
They should create an enabling environment by helping with sponsorship, grants and other things they can use to encourage artists. They are talking about Air Nigeria, can you imagine that the logo was brought from outside Nigeria! Meanwhile we have artists who can do that better. They should recognise that we have talents. Nigeria doesn’t support its own. 

Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
 I’m going to be the Minister of Arts and Culture so that I can change things. If they like, let them add Tourism. I can carry it because they all work together. There’ll be serious overhauling. I will work on tourism because it’s very important and its potentials are not being looked at, at the moment. Let me zoom to art. Tourists are seriously discouraged from buying art pieces since they are stressed  so much at the airport while trying to travel with the works. Why ask them to go to the National museum for written permission when you can have an office representing the museum right there at the airport? This is not helping the industry and our economy as well. In Ghana, majority of their art works are bought by tourists. This is a boost to their economy and the same can happen in Nigeria if the sector’s potentials are harnessed.