Over 100 artists
from across Nigeria converged on the Civic Centre, Victoria Island,
Lagos, on Saturday, March 13 for an interview conducted by the painting
competition committee of the Lagos Black Heritage Festival.
‘Lagos, the City of
a Thousand Masks’ is the theme of the event being organised as part of
the forthcoming Lagos Black Heritage Festival starting on April 3. It
is a collaboration between organisers of the festival and Italy-based
Caterina De’ Medici Company.
The competition is
an annual event of the Caterina De’ Medici Company, but this is the
first time it is coming to Nigeria. Representative of the company in
Africa and head of the competition committee Foluke Michaels explained
that the goal of the contest is to support talents.
She stated that the
company realised there are several talented people in Nigeria who
should be showcased to the world. Michaels added that the fact that a
Nigerian won the overall prize at the last edition of the competition
made the company decide Nigeria should host it.
She further
explained that the competition wants “to capture the many realities,
and unravel mysteries of the historic city of Lagos and its
environment; the warring emotions it arouses in locals and visitors
alike. The competition challenges the imagination of the Nigerian
artist, brings talents to the fore and expands awareness of the many
tendencies of the artistic occupation.”
Medals and dollars
Only 25 applicants
will be selected to participate in the festival. They will be taken on
an extensive tour of Lagos to draw inspiration for their painterly
impression based on the theme of the competition.
The overall winner
of the contest will receive a gold medal and $20,000 while the second
person will get a silver medal and $15,000. The third and fourth placed
winners will also receive silver medals and $7,500 and $5,000
respectively while the fifth person walks home with a silver medal and
$5,000. Apart from medals and cash prizes, the winning artworks will be
exhibited around the world.
Members of the
jury, comprising artists Jerry Buhari, Ndidi Dike and Mufu Onifade,
stated before the commencement of the interview that participants will
be judged on their knowledge of the theme, artistic background and
capacity to respond to challenges.
A member of the organising committee, Akin Adejuwon, reiterated the
importance of the competition. He said it underscores the importance of
visual arts to the human psyche and noted that the competition is the
only event that starts and ends with the festival.
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