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Artworks including paintings, sculpture, mixed media works, prints and photographs totalling 101 lots will go under the hammer at the sixth ArtHouse Contemporary auction, to be held in Lagos on May 9.

Speaking at a press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday, April 5, Kavita Chellaram, ArtHouse Contemporary’s managing director and founder, said her company’s auction is a medium for promoting new and established artists. Artists including Jacob Jari, Krydz Ikwemesi, Obi Ekwenchi, Adeola Balogun, Sade Thompson, Marcia Kure, Demola Ogunajo, Segun Aiyesan, Oladele Awosoga, Nyemike Onwuka and Tam Fiofori are included in the auction for the first time. Artists from Ghana including Owusu Ankomah, Victor Butler and Kofi Asemnyinah will also feature.

Mrs. Chellaram said that two bronze sculptures and one oil painting by Ben Enwonwu included in the auction, are the best works of the late artist that she has had the opportunity to value and sell.

She further disclosed that curators from the Tate Modern will attend the auction, adding that it is the first time a museum from UK will be acquiring works directly from Africa. Art auctions such as the ArtHouse Contemporary’s effort have “put Nigeria on the market,” she noted, adding that there is rising interest in works by African artists.

Of the last auction by Chellaram’s company, held last November at the Civic Centre in Lagos, she informed that, “We sold almost 80 percent of our works. 80 percent in this kind of market which hasn’t recovered from recession, is fantastic. More Nigerians see art as an investment rather than just entertainment.”

Selecting the lots

Fielding media questions on the choice of works for the auction, Chellaram said, “We look for new talents and see if what they are doing is different from what we have seen.” ArtHouse Contemporary manager, Nana Sonoiki, added that, “The works must speak for themselves and must have aesthetics. People are coming to ArtHouse because they know they will get authentic works.” It was noted during the session that although art is becoming a force to reckon with in Nigeria, the market isn’t as buoyant as in America or Europe. Chellaram argued that the poor economic situation and dangers like kidnapping, are factors militating against the boom of the auction market in Nigeria, as such negatives discourage tourists from coming into the country to see artworks. However, she remains optimistic about the art scene in Nigeria and reiterated her belief that the forthcoming auction will be successful. “We’ve had works selling consistently at a high rate,” she declared.

Other organisations have created competing auctions since Arthouse Contemporary began operations, but Chellaram was unfazed. “We love the competition. More people are aware and more people are getting into the market,” she said.

The art patron and collector further disclosed that the selection process remains the biggest challenge in the way of organising the auctions. “Fine tuning and selecting the works is our greatest challenge. We get so many works and we can’t put all of them out there,” she said. As with the November 2009 auction, there are plans to put up lots for charity during next month’s edition. The company is also looking to take the auctions outside Lagos, with one likely for Abuja sometime next year.

The 101 lots that will go under the hammer at the sixth ArtHouse Contemporary auction will be on display at the Civic Centre, Lagos next month, between May 7 to 9.