ART THERAPY – 1

Art as most of us know is creativity and beauty. But beyond that is an intrinsic and subliminal value that is embedded in art. Thus art and the practice of art is also seeking to connect mankind with the essence and meaning of life and existence; it seeks to entrench a sense of harmony and the attainment of inner peace. Art is able to heal us all and our entire society.

After all, the whole man-made world is art. The buildings all around us - architecture of course being a fine art; the motor cars and the likes; textiles and fashion wears, etc. Take a look at the landscapes and skylines created by man. And of course – nature, the art of God; they are all works born out of creative thoughts and imagination. The Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary of current English defines art thus: The creation or expression of what is beautiful, especially in visual form. Beauty and creativity have therapeutic essence which gives rise to mind and body equilibrium.

Serene Landscape

It is important to go into these details in understanding art in its entirety, in order to fully appreciate its usefulness and relevance in the act and process of attaining wellness. But in the first place, what is the function of art? Art being as old as man, has always therefore been functional, be it for its spiritual core value, social or domestic, etc. But embedded in all of these, is its untapped great and hidden power to heal. Now, let us take this from the perspective of colour application and colour psychology. Colour, be it in painting, design or sculpture, etc, is used to enhance or beautify a work of art apart from being a medium of expression.

For a better grasp of this artistic essence, we shall delimit this discourse to the analysis of painting and colour. Thus before any colour is applied or used at all, the artist as well as most ‘conscious’ persons would understand the fact that there exists warm and cool colours, as well as neutral colours. There are also combinations that will turn out to be hot or cold, violent, rioting, noisy, and even harmonious. Colour usage also can result in balance, heaviness or lightness of mood, as well as the depiction of temperament and character, etc. Sometimes we react to colours or certain pieces of art works without knowing it. We know quite alright that we are feeling something but not knowing what, or why.

We can actually feel heat or cold physically, or even an alteration in the state of mind, due to colours we see around us. Most people would for instance reject the idea of having their rooms painted red or black. If anybody does otherwise, you would want their head examined I suppose. One would want to ask why this is so? Why do most men refuse an all bright red outfit, for instance, unless of course they are engaged in professional entertainment or showbiz? But ladies will gleefully act on the contrary, and it is normal! In fact a baby was known to have cried out hysterically when placed in a room painted with a strong RED; while we also know an all black surrounding can as well evoke a sombre feeling.     

FESTAC and the Tragedy of a Mask

In the year 1977, at the height of Nigeria’s past glory, the entire (global) black race converged on the Nigerian soil in a global feast we called FESTAC ’77. It is rather very unfortunate however that a few unlearned minds, sometimes even highly placed, have come to link the nations recent misfortunes, (which actually are attributable to barefaced misrule and corruption), to that global fiesta that brought fame and recognition, and also development to the country.

FESTAC actually means the world Festival of Arts and Culture (being the second edition of the world black and African festival of its kind) in which all black people and people of African descent were fully represented, and Nigeria just excelled herself in that memorable carnival of awesome colours . The symbol of that great gathering was the carved mask image of the Queen-Mother, Idia, during the reign of the irrepressible Oba Ovomramwen of the great ancient Benin Kingdom. That great kingdom is today a part of modern Nigeria.

The original FESTAC mask

In the month of February 1897, the British conquering colonialists carried out a raid which has been popularly tagged the “Punitive measure” on the then reigning monarch and his kingdom. Oba Ovomramwen who was said to be recalcitrant towards the colonial rule had his empire sacked and he was subsequently deposed to Calabar. Many of his chiefs were killed in that coercive move, and the climax of it all was the looting carried out on the vast artistic treasures of Benin. The stolen works of art from the private collections of the royal house are said to number more than 3,000 pieces of treasured artefacts which were carted away to the United Kingdom by the British. 

Among the numerous treasures carted away stands out one particular piece – the carved mask of Queen Idia, the queen-mother herself. It is instructive to note that the FESTAC mask or symbol, which was employed during the festivities, was actually a replica of this stolen mask. As the British refused to return, donate or sell it back to the country, the Nigerian government of the day commissioned a skilled craftsman in the modern day Benin area (which is still famous for its rare quality traditional craftsmanship) to produce a copy of the original mask. And this was what was used at FESTAC ’77. As it stands therefore, the original mask that was stolen from the Benin treasures is sadly sitting in the British museum where many tourists world-wide, including Nigerians sometimes, come to pay to see this beautiful work of ancient Benin artistry among other works in the museum.

Issues in Modern and Contemporary Nigerian Art

In resolving the bugging issues relating to modern and contemporary Nigerian art, it is important however to note the differences as well as similarities between the terms - Modern art and Contemporary Art, and then look at them in the Nigerian context. Modern art includes artistic works produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the style and philosophy of the art produced during that era.

Modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing and with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and functions of art. A tendency toward abstraction is characteristic of much of modern art. This movement actually begins with the heritage of painters like Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat and Henri de Toulouse Lautrec, all of whom were essential for the development of modern art. But Contemporary art can be defined variously as art produced at this present point in time, or art produced since World War II. The definition of the word contemporary would support the first view, but museums of contemporary art commonly define their collections as consisting of art produced since World War II.

Ceramic sculpture by Ato Arinze

According to Dr. Dele Jegede, the erosion of the traditional base of Nigerian culture through contact with Europeans had set off a metamorphosis in patronage and artistic promotion. Western education interrupted the traditional apprenticeship system. Between the 1930s and 1960s, Christianity and a new social order contributed to the genesis of a new era in Nigerian arts. The Oshogbo and Oye Ekiti workshops were important watersheds, which led to a new patronage system, along with the emergence of galleries, new opportunities for exhibitions, and government-sponsored cultural festivals. 

Surrealism today

Surrealism in art is an area that has always fascinated me, and I have utmost respect for the practitioners of this branch of painting. Sometimes I have delved into this realm myself and it is wonderful a times treading on these parts of the somewhat esoteric realm. It is a 20th century movement of artists and writers (developing out of dadaism) who used fantastic images and incongruous juxtapositions in order to represent unconscious thoughts and dreams. And thus you will begin to wonder what really goes on in the minds of these artists.

 Take a look at the works of the all time great - Salvador Dali and those who have come up after him for instance. Even these days, the level of sophistication and sheer skill on display by the adherents of this genre is just incredible. However, here in Nigeria, the notable names are rather few and still remain the likes of – Abayomi Barber, Muyiwa Spencer, Muri Adejimi, etc. In the eighties, and on to the very early nineties, I was highly enthralled by the works of the late Boniface Okafor. The power and vision inherent in his paintings have remained of the highest order. But in the western world it is tremendously astonishing what they have continued to churn out today. Here are just a few of what I have encountered: 

Morgan Nwanguma

WHAT ABOUT VINCENT VAN GOGH?

Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh is a Dutch Post-impressionist painter who is highly noted for his use of colour (1853-1890). When it comes to Van Gogh paintings, almost all of his works are famous outside the art historian circles and often referenced in the popular culture. However, the Starry Night is probably one of the paintings most of us must have seen somewhere at some point in time. It depicts the view from Van Gogh’s sanatorium window situated in Southern France. But why was Van Gogh not appreciated at the time he worked, or was he simply ahead of his time, such that he lived only for posterity?

In a letter to his brother, Van Gogh explained that when he painted this picture he did not make a reference to religion or romance, but to the pure country nature, purer than the suburbs and the bars of Paris. The Starry Night has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York since 1941. This painting and the creative power of Van Gogh inspired Don McLean to write the song “Vincent” also known as “Starry, Starry Night” for its opening line.

It is recorded that the artist hardly sold any of his works during his life time and so did not make any financial success of his career. Could this have been the frustration that drove him to near insanity, and even leading him to slash off his ear? The irony of it all is that Van Gogh has sold so much and also at record breaking prices after his death, and even till this day. Could this not be seen as a mere mockery of this great artist, or is he really a creative genius?

By Morgan Nwanguma

Print-making in Nigeria

Plastocast relief by Bruce Onobrakpeya

Modern Nigerian print-making as an art form can be dated back to the school in Zaria in the late 1950s, though here the emphasis was on print-making as a commercial medium. However, among the graduates of this programme are two of the most prominent of Nigeria's print-makers: Bruce Onobrakpeya and Solomon Irein Wangboje. While Wangboje is renowned for his wood cuts and lino prints, Onobrakpeya is world famous for his elaborate works in metal foil reliefs, plasto-cast reliefs as well as other mixed media techniques.

Chinua Achebe: The Exit of an Iroko

Professor Chinua Achebe the renowned Nigerian author has been rightly referred to in many ways as the father of African literature. It is unbelievable that this international giant of letters authored his world famous classic – Things Fall Apart in 1958 when the young writer was just 28 years of age. This particular work has so far been translated into over 50 international languages having sold over 10 million copies internationally.

Prof Chinua Achebe

Two years ago Achebe made headlines when he turned down a $1million offer from American Hip-Hop star, Curtis Jackson popularly known as 50 Cent, for permission to use the ‘Things Fall Apart’ title for a movie he was about making. The renowned essayist and political critic was serving as Professor of African studies at Brown University, Rhode Island. As a mark of his staunch political and principled stance on matters of integrity, and relating to his utter disgust at the manner of political leadership style back home in Nigeria, Achebe in the course of time had had cause to reject two national merit awards by successive governments, while decrying the state of affairs in the country.

“Things Fall Apart” which was illustrated by an equally renowned visual artist and childhood and bosom friend of the writer - Prof Chike Okeke, went on to become one of Africa’s most read novels around the world. The man who is fondly called the father of modern African Literature would rather be referred to as a “giant in world literature” by fellow Nigerian writer - Biyi Bandele. A revered member of the titled elders’ forum called Ichie, as well as an Ozo red cap chief of his Ogidi clan in Anambra State, Chinua Achebe will be missed by all manner of readers and admirers of his colourful prose crafted in the most eloquent mastery of story-telling.