Next of Kin: 20 artists make long list

Next of Kin: 20 artists make long list

By Ozolua Uhakheme

Assistant Editor (Arts)

 

 

 

Thought Pyramid Art Centre has unveiled a long list of 20 artists out of the 192 entries received for this year’s Next of Kin competition themed Who Will Give Us A Masterpiece? The artists include Nothando Chiwanga (Zimbabwe), Cletus Oche, Aba Linus, Oyelusi Olasunkanmi,  Zainab Ajala, Yakubu Oluwaseun Kareem, Anyaheto Chinenye, Solomon Oguvre, Olatunde Emmanuel and Uhule Nguemo Martha, Others are Mitchelle James, Chinedu Christopher, Okeke Maduabuchi, Macaulay Barnabas, Okeuhie Solomon Chukwuemeka, Festus Biodun, Abiodun Emmanuel, Adetokun Opeyemi, Ibrahim Falilat and David Obebiate Azibodi.

The overall winner that will emerge in March will get financial incentives that include a 5million naira solo exhibition prize.

Next of Kin Series, which entered its seventh edition was established in 2018 by Thought Pyramid Art Centre and has become a prominent platform for discovering and celebrating emerging visual artists in Nigeria. Past winners like Anthonia Nnneji, Christian Allison, Ikechukwu Ezeigwe, Olalekan Adeyemi, and Yakno Jessica have used this competition as a springboard, gaining recognition in the art community and becoming favourites among collectors. The jurors for this year’s edition are Kelani Abass, Nathalie Kassi, and Arinze Stanley.

Speaking at the event, Exhibition Director, Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Ovie Omatsola disclosed that a new section, tagged Legacies in making will be introduced to the events and it will feature the works of one of the previous finalists of the Next of Kin. This year, the launch of the sub-part of the initiative be done with works of Omofemi Oluwole.

But prior to the grand finale in March, the 20 artists that have emerged will be updated on when they need to present their works, come for photo shooting and creating content for the public to see. 

Omatsola stated that there are plans for outreach programme at the Nigerian Prison in Ikoyi in the month of February, but added that there is a security challenge. 

“But we are having a small challenge. The challenge is the security aspect of going to the prison yard. The prison authority said we can’t come in with cameras and all that. And for the events we are doing, we need to document them.  However, they’ve given us approval, but we are now trying to get another approval so that we can go in with cameras.  It is to set them up for a better future after prison time because there is always life after prison time.

“But after the workshop, which has Hope as theme, there will be painting of the walls of the prison from inside. They will join in the mural painting. Some of the people who joined us in the workshop will also join in painting their own walls. And it’s hope. It’s just letting them know that there is life after your time in prison. Then the exhibition will hold 30^thof March when the eventual winner will be announced,” he said.  

One of the jurors, Nathalie Kassi urged the participants to try to touch every medium but master one. “So by the moment you find your domain, where you feel comfortable, where you easily imagine and create, master it,” she said adding that they must know their target audience. “You target your audience as you cannot ignore the audience. You cannot ignore what they're saying. Even if an artist is free to do whatever he wants, but he cannot ignore the consumers,” she noted. On how to remain relevant in the art market she advised artists to go slowly in their career development. According to her, some artists can be lucky to produce a mater piece shortly after leaving school while others may take up to 20 or 30 years to achieve such feat. “But nowadays, we have to use everything around us to grow. And it will make you stronger, because when you go slowly, you will last in the market,” Kassi said.

Recalling her experiences on arriving Nigeria from Cameroon, she said: “When I came to Lagos, people barely pronounced my name. I invested a lot in going out, going to exhibitions, going to talk, seminars, so that way, people, I have some exhibitions that were planned through such outing. But, when you stay in your house, not everybody, not everything will come and meet you in your house,” she said of the need for artist to market himself. Sponsors of the event include Nigeria Machine Tools, who was represented by the General Manager, Business Development and Corporate Affairs for Quinn McGrath Limited, the parent company of Nigeria Machine Tools Limited, Mrs Obehi Ojeaga, the Trustbanc and Planet Bottling Company.