By Folasade Adeniran

Renowned Nigerian-Irish artist, Ben Nwosa, has called for more awareness in the field of arts and its appreciation among Nigerians.

Nwosa spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday on the sidelines of his ongoing arts exhibition at the Didi Museum, in Lagos.

The arts exhibition is titled: ‘Curtains of Memories’.

The artist noted that the prevailing economic challenges in Nigeria had put art collections only within the reach of the very rich.

He categorised the Nigerian audience reception to art and exhibition to include those who attend art exhibitions because they want to meet the artist or artists.

Also, are those who want to purchase art pieces of the during or after the exhibition in order to re-sell.

According to Nwosa, these may be private individuals, galleries or interior decorators.

“Some very rich individuals buy art pieces because their friends bought and do not want to be an exception or probably because they want to encourage the artist.

“The third category, I envisage, are the connoisseurs who buy art for esthetic reasons,” he added.

Nwosa noted that these prevailing characteristics were not the same in the western world, where artists were revered and artworks more valued.

He said that the exhibition was aimed at encouraging people to appreciate, love and promote art as well as policy makers to see abstract art, black and white, differently.

“This exhibition is not driven primarily by financial motivation but rather in opening the eyes of Nigerian creative sectors.

“My intention is to make my audience and connoisseurs of art enjoy the pieces without restraints.

“The more you look at the pieces, the more visual perception you have and consequently able to interpret the works yourself.

“I wanted to showcase to Nigerians how much I have been influenced by my sojourn abroad.

“Most of the art pieces are abstract and semi abstract works. I used lines, shapes, forms, colour, gestures marks to communicate an idea.

“Also, most of the art pieces are untitled deliberately,” he said.

Also speaking, Elizabeth Jibunoh, Co-Founder of Didi Museum, commended Nwosa.

She said that Nwosa’s work was a testament to the enduring spirit of creativity and the remarkable things that could emerge when discipline and freedom were embraced.

“I invite you to experience this collection with an open mind and an appreciation for the profound interplay of light and shadow, form and space Nwosa has masterfully crafted.

“It is an honour to once again present his work here at Didi Museum, a fitting venue for an artist whose journey is both a celebration of the past and a bold step into the future,” Jibunoh said. (NAN)

Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo