Tunde Odunlade, the Chief Executive Officer and Curator, Tunde Odunlade Art and Culture Connexions, Ibadan, Oyo State, has urged Nigerians to invest in art collection in view of its revenue-yielding benefits.
Odunlade gave the advice at an art exhibition tagged: “Ewa-Beauty” and “The Art We Wear” (a photo exhibition and documentary by an artist, Aderemi Davies).
The programme was organised by Odunlade Art and Culture Connexion, Ibadan, in collaboration with African Treasures Arts Gallery, Owerri, capital of Imo State.
Odunlade said art is appreciated more in the world market than in the stock exchange.
“Mona Lisa is a good example; you can’t even get it for any price now and it was nothing ab initio.
“The likes of Ben Eneonwu, Yusuf Grillo, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Lamidi Fakeye, Muraina Oyelami, Jimoh Buraimoh, among their works may not be worth nothing some 30, 40, 50 years ago, but those who collected their works then, are now thanking their stars.
“This is because they are worth a lot more anywhere and grow in value year in year out; there is no investment as worth
as art, especially if you know your onions, it pays greater than anything else in the long run,” he said.
According to him, an art exhibition is a tradition in the art world, an avenue to give artists opportunities to showcase their works of art.
The event featured 12 major Nigerian artists in various artistic media: beaded batik quit tapestry, sculpture, marble oil painting, oil on canvas, pointillism, yarn tapestry and soil painting.
Commenting, Aderemi Davies, also an artist, said, “the ‘Art We Wear’ is a robust bodywork that celebrates the beauty of African culture and depth of its traditional systems.”
Davies added that this was done by showcasing the aesthetics and meanings in three fashion expressions of the Yoruba: the gele (headgear), agbada (three pieces of men’s clothing) and indigenous hairstyles. (NAN)
