BusinessDay 17 Dec 2017

C002D5556
36 BD SUNDAY
Sunday 17 December 2017
Arts
Billy Omabegho and his great art
OBINNA EMELIKE
The Nigerian art community
celebrated
Billy Omabegho,
internationally celebrated
contemporary
artist, when returned
home to Nigeria with an exciting
new exhibition of recent
modern minimalist sculptures.
Of course, Omabegho
is a respected visual artist,
furniture designer, architect,
and contemporary sculptor.
On his return, he lived up to
the expectations of his folks
here with the exhibition of
his new works after many
years working in his New
York studio.
The works represent an
impressive new body of aluminum,
stainless steel, wood
& bronze forms.
However, Omabegho’s best
known Nigerian sculptures
were created during Nigeria’s
FESTAC years in the 1970’s,
when the government’s vibrant
commitment to art in
public spaces led to important
commissions such as his
Convergence monument at
the Lagos State House on the
Marina (1976), the Memorial
to Mohammed installed
in Benin City (1977), the Manila
symbol monument at
the Lagos International Trade
Fair (1978), and the Communication
sculpture at the NET
Building Marina (1979). His
30 foot high, “zig zag” formed,
welded aluminium and stainless
steel Zuma sculpture, is
one his most important works,
representing the vital forces
of nature which he translated
into abstract forms representing
birth and renewal. The
sculpture was commissioned
as an installation for the plaza
Omabegho
in front of Nigeria House in
Manhattan, New York. Zuma
became one of the prized
monuments of New York,
showcasing Nigerian contemporary
art in the heart of the
city. In 2005, leading Nigerian
artists under the auspices of
the Society of Nigerian Artists
(SNA) and the media advocacy
group, Communicating for
Change, mounted a successful
campaign against a move to
have the Zuma sculpture replaced
with a more “African”
looking sculpture. “Billy”, as
friends and associates fondly
call him, is a quintessential
renaissance African, combining
his deep-rooted Ishekiri
origins with a lively and broad
based approach to African
influences on global art and
civilization.
His writing and research
on the origins of African art,
is reflected in the ancient
and pure forms of his bronze,
aluminum, polished stainless
steel and metal sculptures,
which are made up of
ultra-modern abstract forms,
geometric shapes and strong
diagonal influences. His new
works include the Homage series,
in which he presents multilayered
metal discs and triangular
shapes to show mans’
interconnectedness with the
universe. The series also has
minimalist triangular shapes
in the form of the ancient Ka
symbol, revealing the human
form in devotional stance with
Billy Omabegho’s 1992 abstract sculpture, Zuma, in front of the Nigerian House at Kudurat
Abiola Corner, consists of zig-zag snake-like forms symbolizing rebirth and renewal
outstretched arms, embracing
the very essence of life.
His signature sculpture
called An Exploring Mind,
beautifully represents Billy’s
deep connection with exploring
science and nature, and
the need for our minds to
reach out and seek knowledge.
Omabegho is a master at combining
highly technological
influences and art processes
on metal, which represent
pure ancient African symbols.
His beautifully crafted, simple
forms are truly unique representations
of contemporary
sculpture at its best. After
many years abroad, we are
honored that Billy Omabegho
is returning home on a nostalgic
journey to his native
Nigeria, to share his vision and
exciting new collection with
our dynamic & vigorously
creative art community.
Lagos Grows Talents sets for audition
…as organisers unveil judges
The audition of the
“Lagos Grows Talents”
that is set to hold in
five different regions in
Lagos State will begin on
December 19 to 21, 2017.
Judges from different walks
of the entertainment industry
have been confirmed to
panel the audition.
The “Lagos Grows Talent”,
which features various
talents exhibitions, would
hold its audition in a three
days programme at five
different locations, which
are; Recreation Centre in
Badagry, City Mall in Lagos
Island, Information Centre
in Ikorodu, Marina in Epe,
and Radio Lagos in Ikeja.
The audition is slated for
10am on each day.
The judges with unbiased
discretion confirmed to
panel the audition include,
Nollywood actresses, Toyin
Abraham, Sotayo Gaga,
Ufuoma McDermott; Nollywood
actor, Yomi Fash
Lanso, fashion sensation,
Derenle Edun, the “Abakaliki2Lasgidi”
singer, Humblesmiths,
among others.
With just a few days to
the “Lagos Grows Talents”
auditions, the atmosphere
on the social media has
begun to get filled with
excitement and suspense as
the prospective contestants
have started to get ready
to showcase their talents.
The organizers of the “Lagos
Grows Talents” have vowed
to give day-to-day press
reports of everything that
goes down at the audition
venues.
“Lagos Grows Talent” is a
well-thought out scheme,
under the leadership of
Akinwunmi Ambode, governor,
Lagos State, and is
aimed at elevating the Lagos
youths and upwardly
mobile of Nigeria. Lagosians
and residents of Lagos are
hereby called upon to come
showcase their talents at
the “Lagos Grows Talents”
and get rewarded for it.
The “Lagos Grows Talent”
is known for its heterogeneity
as it features diverse
talents, which may range
from music to crafts. Participation
is absolutely free
and it requires no element
of formal knowledge in
education.
Top 10 successful contestants
would perform their
acts alongside the invigorating
performances from successful
individuals in the
entertainment industry, at
the “One Lagos Fiesta”. The
grand finale of the event,
with the Governor of Lagos
State in attendance, would
see the selection of one
final winner that would
be chosen by the audience.
Certificates of attendance
would also be given to the
top ten finalists.
“Lagos Grows Talent”,
being the dawn of a bright
new day in Lagos, gives
opportunity to talented
Lagosians and Lagos residents
alike, to be the next
celebrated superstar on a
platter of gold.