Simeon Mpamugoh
In a bid to develop African art through artists-in-residence programmes, Alexis Galleries recently graduated 15 up-and-coming artists from different parts of Nigeria to a two-week residency programme.
The programme took place at the galleries on 282 Akin Olugbade Street, Off Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island. The participating artists included Yemi Uthman, Adetunji Afeez, Agemo Francis, Oluwaseun Ojebiyi, David Olatunde, Joseph Bidemi, Ali Raheem, Babatunde Kesa, Samuel Olayombo, Oyelusi Olasunkanmi, Darlington A. Chukuwuze, Aidelokha A. Iziogba, Inumoh Charles, Aliu kabiru and Akinbanji Osanyemi.
Founder and Director, Alexis Galleries, Mrs. Patty Chidiac-Mastrogiannis, said, “There is no artist-in-residence programme that is the same. Each artist has its own background and experience, thus, our residency programme is not just for the established, the up-and-coming, but mostly for the young artists.
“During our first edition, we had six artists, while this edition boasts of 15. The programme offers space for creative minds to live and work with all expenses paid; free mentorship by established artists, professors and collectors who came around on daily basis to prick their creative consciousness so that they leave with fresh ideas and inspirations.
“We give them room to explore, learn from one another and create artworks inspired by Naija, which is why the theme is “Simply Naija.” We also discover that there are many talented artists without a platform to showcase their talent; the programme provides such opportunity to them, thanks to Frigoglass, the bottling company that made it possible,” she explained.
According to the curator, “Some of the works of this group of artists would be shown on the galleries to put them on a bigger scale. It will come under the theme ‘Destiny’. We also have another exhibition entitled ‘Fate’. So, you can see how fate runs with destiny.
“This is a traveling show. The Artists-in-Residence would be shown twice a year in a group exhibition in October at Alexis, the National Museum, and other places,” she added.
She disclosed that the artists were basically mixed of strangers before bonding, saying that many of them had got direction, precision while others were unblocked. “So, it is a healthy mix. The good thing is that, they give to criticism, and each one has a different style. It is about the young helping the up-and-coming, and the upcoming helping the young artists,” she informed
She noted of a particular interest the 18-year-old Aliu Kabiru who is into hyperrealism, adding, “Our plan is to mentor him and kick him up the ladder. He is going to be part and parcel of Alexis Galleries on a permanent basis. The rest already had been paint artists. And in ten years hopefully, we would be begging them to come with works.”
The residency, which started on Friday 11, ended on 26. But beyond that she said, “We will literarily start grilling and punching faces: criticising the works, signing and testing what works and does not. And squeezing them into places, and hopefully the big boys would be made out of them.”
One of the artists, Aliu Kabiru Olatunji, who was working on apiece entitled “Broken Ladies”, explained that the theme was an image of broken mirrors inscribed with images of ladies, “It is a story of ladies who are denied opportunities in the country, and other parts of the world. I’m canvassing the need for women to be given opportunities to aspire alongside their male folks. It is regrettable that in Nigeria, women are broken in many ways,” he maintained.