I Remember Gani Odutokun

Gani Odutokun was one of the most talented, prolific and inspiring artists to come out of Nigeria this century. Gani was my lecturer and a great inspirer and motivator that had an unending strong influence on many of us who were privileged to have had training under him. His untimely death in a car crash in February of 1995 meant the loss of one of Nigeria's pioneers of Modern African art. Could it be just an irony of fate – Gani loved ‘accidents’? Thus his latter works were results of happenstance, and 'happy' accidents, from which he derived his unique liquidized oil painting technique. 

'Dry earth'  - liquidized (oil) painting by Gani Odutokun

WHAT IS AFRICAN ART? (1)

The meaning and purpose of art can be traced back to man’s earliest quest for survival. Thus the meaning, function and purpose of art in those days were quite different from what we would know of it today. Then, art only played a functional role. Early man learnt to fashion out tools, weapons and body coverings. Even the drawings done by the wizard artist were for magical purposes.

But as man developed further he even became superstitious, and thence emanated the ritual or religious purpose of art. But the most outstanding form of early-man’s art is the cave art: featuring drawings, paintings and etchings on the walls of caves. The purpose of these people for doing what they did have no doubt become different from what their legacies are for us today – hidden treasures of invaluable records. The artists were totally unbiased and true to their natural callings; responsive to their every social activities and events surrounding them. Art, be it as practised in the early times or as of today, would normally function in various ways. A piece of art work could perform social, domestic, religious or aesthetic functions.

Benin bronze head - an example of  traditional African art

But the question is – does African art perform different functions from European art for example? Are their roles supposed to be delimitated or specifically targeted towards a particular purpose? I would think that early-man art, and traditional art – being its immediate successor, could play the same roles be it in Africa, Europe, the Far East, the Americas or Oceania, etc.

Because of man’s level of development at this time, encumbered by superstition, animism crept into art. And also due to the level of interaction and non-commercialisation of man’s early art forms, there was maintained a strong level of seeming conservatism and therefore marked differences, and demarcations arose. And so one would want to ask – what is the noise all about African art? This is to say, looking at the concept, from the perspective in which the term is popularly viewed even in today’s modern world. I submit that there is African art, and there is also traditional art of Africa. So, if we set apart traditional African art, do we still have what is popularly touted as African art?

Watercolour Painting - Part 2

As you set out on another adventure of watercolour painting, we shall continue on this series . I would advise you however to allow your watercolours to live dangerously like I try to sometimes. You should also try to exploit some of the unique effects obtainable when water is used as an active part of the process.
Here is a description of some of the basic methods of working which I will also say are major rules. Also following these basic rules, it is first extremely useful to note some of the main functions of water as well as the techniques in the use of the watercolour medium.

Transparency
Water is the vehicle as it were, on which the medium is based; it is the means by which colours are traditionally lightened. A pigment can be reduced in tone and intensity by progressively adding water to it. Water is also the means by which colours become transparent. The greater the amount of water added to a dilution the greater the ‘show through’ of underlying colours. Dilute colours laid down over one another will mix rather in the fashion that two pieces of coloured glass overlaid will produce a third colour.
It is possible to exploit this characteristic to achieve crystalline effects of great beauty, but to be successful great care must be taken to keep the colours pure and suitably dilute. This means that palettes, water and brushes should be kept as clean as possible. Watercolourists who lament the lack of luminosity in their paintings could usefully check the cleanliness of their palettes and the frequency with which they change their painting water.

Granulation
Washes of flat, even colour can be achieved with watercolour but it is possible that in certain dilutions some colours will precipitate or separate out on the paper, resulting in a speckled texture. French ultramarine is prone to granulate. Under certain conditions other colours will granulate too, and these include: yellow ochre, vermilion, and burnt umber. Some other pigments will granulate only when laid over a previous wash. Granulation is not predictable in its outcome. Efforts to achieve it will often result in failure, yet it may occur when not wanted. A process of trial and error with various less than weak pigment dilutions will bring about a degree of control, but it is probably best to allow granulation to occur spontaneously.

Wet-in-wet
In its pure form a wet-in-wet watercolour is produced on damp paper and the paint is not allowed to dry throughout the process. Painting by this method means that there are no hard edges or sharply defined forms. Wet-in-wet can be useful for certain subjects. For example, misty landscapes showing lakes or rivers in half- light have been successfully suggested by the soft merging colours of this technique. It is also possible to use wet- in-wet methods to create the effect of a cloudy sky. Colours can be laid down and allowed to bleed and water can be introduced into wet colour creating cloud-like forms. Creating a wet-in-wet sky requires a bold approach and a steady nerve. Failure is always a possibility, but so is outstanding success. Many, if not most watercolourists mix wet-in-wet techniques with wet on dry. Working in this way provides the best of both worlds.
Wet on Dry
This is a technique that requires you paint on a well stretched dry paper. You are able to achieve hard edges as well as high intensity or sharp contrasts in your painting. Thus the dry technique is the way to create the effect of a bright sunny day. However, as it has earlier been stated, both wet and dry can still be combined for maximum desired effects of moods, weather and aerial perspective, etc.

Morgan C. Nwanguma
Chiaroscuro artwold

Nigerian Art - A Gathering Momentum

Finally it seems Nigerian art, especially modern contemporary Nigerian art, and indeed antiquities, are beginning to creep into their pride of place. What with the occasional auctions that are organized by a few private stakeholders, not to mention of course the now annual Lagos art expo put together by he association of gallery owners, etc. But in all of these and above all, it is worthy of mention that Nigerian art is after all going on the international art auction

Just recently, Bonhams, a British auction house put up an international auction of African art in New York, USA, in March this year. It is also cheery to note that given the five most expensive woks at this event, they were all Nigerian, in which a painting by the late Ben Enwonwu - depicting some of the artist’s characteristic dazzling dancers, went for $91,000.

Thence one will now begin to see the far sightedness and wisdom in the uncanny hobby or pastime that the few or tiny circle of ardent collectors we have in Nigeria today, have chosen to embark on from many years back, and even so for those who would be genuinely embarking on a similar journey even from now on. This tiny circle of collectors makes strong statements about the government caring very little about preserving this rich artistic heritage, and in the same vein share the cynicism of many Nigerians, who think the politicians are more eager to grab a share of the revenues of sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest oil producer. But the labours of love of these few dedicated patrons have begun to pay off as these collections are beginning to attract international attention as well as cash. And so, this is fast becoming a good place to spend some of the huge oil money that flow in a country that still has the majority of her bewildered and beleaguered general masses grinding and cringing in abject poverty.

Even with all of these, it is still generally strongly believed that Nigeria’s art is still very much undervalued, This sentiment is shared by many of those collectors who were at the auction, and even more so by Mr.Giles Peppiatt, director of contemporary African art at Bonhams. He states that prices are bound to go up. So brace up, for the journey it seems, has just begun,

Perfect Glasses – Fashion and Solution

It is not often that fashion and health are seen in association, but the creations and the attractive, even though simplistic flair that are exhibited by the products of an online eyeglass ‘boutique’ http://www.perfectglassesusa.com that specializes in catering for the visual health and I dare say, facial fashion of its customers – are worthy of note. It is also very rare to find recommended or prescription glasses that are actually meant for sight correction looking so elegant, complemental and regal on the wearer.

The site of this specialized on-line store greets one with an ambience of friendliness and subtle brilliance as could be found in the range of products. Paul Frank Sunglasses are as fashionable as they are in functionality. Byeby blues - Blueice are anyone’s favourite any day in their alluring calm colour and splendid style. So also are the Women’s Glasses and the rest of the prescription products and sunglasses such as Men’s Glasses, German Glasses, Kids’ Glasses, and Mustache Museum, etc.

The real attraction on the whole is really that prescription glasses and the rest of them all can actually be found in a one-stop on-line destination in a range replete with elegance, colourful appeal, and stylish creativity all at the same time. Yet all of these range of products come with affordable tags as well as friendly discounts and bonuses.

Morgan Nwanguma

Ben Enwonwu

Art personality

Let us take a look as we do a brief feature on art personality. The late Professor Ben Enwonwu easily stands out as a legendary figure on the landscape of contemporary Nigerian Art. As a fresh graduate just out of art school, Enwonwu had the singular rare honour of having the Queen of England visiting his studio and posing for a life-size sculpture.

In July 1937, Kenneth C. Murray exhibited the works of his pioneer students at the Zwemmer Gallery in London and this marked Enwonwu's first representation as an artist in the British Empire. Though not yet a professional, this exhibition earned him favorable recognition in Nigeria and England, as well as encouraging remarks from Rt. Hon. Ormby Gore, then Secretary of State for the Colonies, who performed the opening ceremonies.

Painting by Ben Enwonwu

 In 1938, Enwonwu took part in the Glasgow Empire exhibition and in 1944 he was awarded a Scholarship to study art in the United Kingdom. The Nigerian Colonial Government, the British Council and the Shell Petroleum jointly sponsored this scholarship which came about through a chance meeting with L. N. Harford, then Director of Shell (West Africa) at a one man exhibition of Enwonwu's works in Lagos in 1943.

Enwonwu attended Goldsmith College, London in 1944, Ruskin College, Oxford from 1944 to 1946, and Slade School of Fine Arts of the University of London, from 1946 to 1948. In these institutions, he studied Drawing, Painting and Sculpture, Aesthetics, and History of Western Art and graduated with distinction in sculpture. In 1946, on the invitation of Sir Julian Huxley, Director-General of UNESCO, Enwonwu participated in the Musee d'Art Moderne's International Exhibition of Modern Art held in Paris.

Enwonwu's participation in this exhibition indicates a high level of recognition of his art in the Western critical establishment. Such recognition can in part be attributed to the fact that he was perhaps one of the few African artists operating at that professional level in Britain during this period.

Ikom Stone Monoliths

Today I am so excited to be taking you on a very interesting journey. Our journey will take us into the forests of the south-east of Nigeria; we shall also go into the origins of some of the traditional art practices or movements from these parts of Nigeria. Thus some of these are forebears of the modern art style that have become so relevant today. Now we go on a trip to the forests of Ikom to see one of the lesser known ancient cultures of Nigeria - the Ikom Stone Monoliths.

Ikom Stone Monolith

For close to 100 years, Alok, a sleepy community in Ikom Local Government Area (LGA) of Cross River State has been attracting scholars, tourists and the simply curious because of the local station of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) located there.

Alok's Open-Air Museums (AOAM) continue to lure many visitors even though its exhibits are all about the dead, or just about so. Alok's open-air museums hold Akwanshi, a local word, which translates as "dead people." Although Akwanshi stands for dead people, it also refers to a family stone circle in some context. These circles developed from the tradition of the people of Akajuk, Nnam, Nde, Nta, Nsle and so on. Whenever someone died in such areas, the survivors of the dead person would go and drop a stone in memory of the departed. For unknown reasons, the tombstones were dropped in such a geometric pattern that after a while a circle evolved, according to Chief Sylvanus Ekoh Akong, Head of Station of AOAM.

These ancient stone sculptures, also called monoliths, are sometimes referred to as Ikom Monoliths or Nkarasi Monoliths. However, such monoliths, usually arranged in circles could be found across Nnam land. Alok, Emangabe and many other settlements make up the Nnam nation, whose people speak various dialects of Nnam. The people of Alok speak Nnam, a dialect of Ejagham. Alok is a village in Nnam clan, which comprises 27 villages. Interestingly, there are 27 circles of Akwanshi or Akwansi in Nnam land. Nnam-an Nkunu is the generic name of the Nnam people, Chief Akong explained.