Peju Alatise, Unconscious Struggle, 2012, mixed media, 264 x 162.5 x 96.5cm
MONDAY, 13TH MAY 2013, 6PM VIEWINGS: SATURDAY 11TH MAY 2013, 10 - 6PM SUNDAY 17TH MAY 2013, 12 - 6PM THE WHEATBAKER 4 ONITOLO ROAD IKOYI www.arthouse-ng.com
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27 MARKET FILE
CONTRIBUTORS AND EDITOR’S LETTER
AUCTIONS, INVESTMENT, GALLERY, ARTIST DOSSIER
ANTENNAE SNEAK PEEKS, REVIEWS, TRENDS
17
Bonhams’ Africa Now
11
Song for Sekoto 1913-2013
11
6th Joburg Art Fair
12
African Artists Foundation: Lagos Photo 2013
12
African Art Gets London Artfair
13
FOCUS
The Rising Value of Nigerian Art
28
Top 10 at Nigerian Auctions
32
The Emerging Secondary Art Market in Nigeria
34
Harnessing the Potentials of African Art: A Collector’s approach to investment
38
Monna Mokoena Shares his Success behind South Africa's Premier Contemporary Art Gallery
42
Artist Dossier: Yusuf Grillo
44
INTERVIEWS, PROFILES The Art in Recycling: Nnenna Okore Talks About Her Work and Inspirations
18
Giles Peppiatt: Art and the Global Market
22
63 REPORT STUDIO VISIT, SHOW AND TELL, OMENKA READS
46 LIFESTYLE The Wheatbaker: A Perfect Blend of Splendour and Style 58
7 2 FEATURE
Life as a Market: What is so Intriguing about the African Market Scene?
Abass Kelani: Inspiration for Man and Machine Exhibition
52
Kofi Agorsor: Behind the Scene
54
Exhibition Reviews
56
Books that are really worth your time
64
This Season: Upcoming Fairs and Exhibitions
68
72
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OMENKA MAGAZINE VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1
ANTENNAE SNEAK PEEK, TRENDS
“ News is that which comes from the
North, East, West and South,
and if it comes from only one point on the compass, then it is a class publication and not news....
”
Henry David Thoreau
FOCUS
INTERVIEWS, PROFILES
“Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.
COMING SOON! WWW.OMENKAMAGAZINE.COM
”
Andre Gide
FOCUS - INTERVIEW
NNENN A OK ORE IS A
MATERIAL WORDS MONI A GBEDEH IMA
THE AR T IN RECY
GES NNENN A OK ORE
CLING: NNENN
A T ALKS ABOUT HER W
GIRL ORK AND INSPIRA
TION
N
nenna Okore is one of the fast-rising names on the international contemporary art scene. Born 1975 in Nigeria, she became involved with women's forums and youth projects coordinated by United Nations affiliates and other non-governmental organizations. She also used her art to campaign against existing social conditions and attitudes that are hostile to pregnant women and girls. In 1999 she earned a BA degree with first class honours in painting from University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In 2002 she moved to the United States where she received her MA and MFA degrees in sculpture from the University of Iowa in 2004 and 2005. It was there she became engaged with used paper as a medium for addressing issues of recycling and conservation. She is presently an assistant professor of art at North Park University, Chicago, Illinois. Moni Agbedeh talks with her about the art of recycling and her work and inspiration. Below are the excerpts from the interview.
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Lamps II, 2010, newspaper, wire and lights, varied dimension
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LIFESTYLE
Decoration or Asset?
The Art Exchange’s Product s and Services include... Advisory Services Acquisit ion Financing Cust odian & Insurance Services
www.theartexchangelimited.com info@theartexchangelimited.com +234 706 590 4800
The Omooba Yemisi Adedoyin Art Foundation (OYASAF) is a non profit organization established to promote Nigerian visual art throught workshops; seminars and lectures; loans to international exhibitions; fellowships; and publications. OYASAF is reputed to have the largest collection of art in Nigeria with over 8,000 works in diverse media.
MEGACITY AND THE NON CITY 19 OCTOBER - 16 NOVEMBER 2013 WWW.LAGOSPHOTOSFESTIVAL.COM
t. + 234 1 7844589 e. info@nigerianartoyasaf.org www.nigerianartoyasaf.org
REPORTS - OMENKA READS
Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections Edited by Jess Castellote
C O N T E M P O R A R Y
N I G E R I A N A RT
Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections: New Trees in an Old Forest is published by Bookcraft Limited and sponsored by major art collector and chairman of the Visual Arts Society of Nigeria, Sammy Olagbaju. It was promoted by Pan-African University and edited by the director of the Visual Art Museum, Jess Castellote.
I N L A G O S P R I VAT E C O L L E C T I O N S NEW TREES IN AN OLD FOREST
edited by
Jess Castellote
11 x 11” (28 x 28cm), 306pp. 259 colour illustrations ISBN 978-978-8135-78-4 (Paperback) N15,000, US $95.00, UK £65.00 ISBN 978-978-8135-88-3 (Hardback) N20,000, US $125.00, UK £81.00
The book portrays generations of Nigerian artists whose experiences of the society are represented through art in diverse media and styles. Accompanied by lavish photographs of images of old masters and emerging artists, the book is structured in 7 segments: Art Currency, and Contemporaneity in Nigeria; Collectors and their Collections; The Contemporary Art Market in Lagos; The Art of Collecting; The Pre-Independence Generation, The Independence Generation, and The Post-Independence Generation. Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections reveals changes in art forms collected over time and the forces that influence the Lagos art market. Through recurrent themes that cut across culture such as dance, fishing and market scenes presented in realist form, the Nigerian landscape is unmistakable in works of the pre-independence era. This tendency is also shared by artists of the independence period who are as faithful to Western conventions of realism as some of their predecessors. This can be explained in terms of the general level of art appreciation in the country hitherto shaped by the audience's (including collectors, scholars and enthusiasts) predisposition towards identifiable representations. Realism becomes a motivation for a good number of artists to create works which they can easily sell, rather than follow inspiration, which often defies stereotypes. The book dispels the myth that Nigerians do not collect art as the patronage by art collectors continues to increase. Sammy Olagbaju, a prominent Lagos collector took the initiative to document over 250 artworks created since 1985 by 70 Nigerian artists, drawn from 30 private collections in Lagos. The book examines art produced in Nigeria through the perspective of a collector. The analysis drawn from contemporary Nigerian art challenges the generally accepted view in recent books in the country. This new perspective underlines the importance of a critical study to facilitate a richer understanding of contemporary art in Nigeria. Contemporary Nigerian Art in Lagos Private Collections is published in both paper and hardback.
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