Araism Movement 7 in Abuja - September 7

PRESS RELEASE

…Celebrating Nigeria at 50

Araism Movement 7 opens in Abuja

Venue

Thought Pyramid Art Gallery,
62, Parakou Crescent, Wuse 2, Abuja

Date
Tuesday September 7, 2010
Time: 5pm


Exhibiting artists
Mufu Onifade, Abiola Mautin Akande, Oludotun Popoola, Abolore Awojobi, Oluwanbe Amodu, Esther Emmanuel, Kesa Babatunde, Jimoh Saliu Babatunde, George Egunjobi, Bolarinwa Olowo, Jonathan Imafidor, Odumbo Adeniran, Olukotun Temitope, Adegoke Akinola


For the first time since its inception in 2006, Araism Movement, founded by Mufu Onifade and joined by artists who share the same vision, journeys to Abuja in September for the seventh in its exhibition series. Originally designed to create a platform of annual artistic feast, the Movement has increased its tally of annual shows beyond one show per year. So far the Movement has between 2006 and March this year presented six shows to the appreciative publics. All past shows have been held in Lagos. The number of exhibiting artists has also increased from the initial six in 2006 to fourteen already screened for Abuja.

In the words of Mr. Bunmi Babatunde, Chairman, Universal Studios of Art who headed the Pane of Jurors, “In all, there were 88 works submitted by 15 artists. There was no regularity in the number of works submitted by each artist but submission per artist ranges between four and twelve works per artist. Sizes and thematic disposition also range from the repertoire of one artist to another.

“The task was to select a maximum of five works per artist. Terms of reference for the purpose of selection based on standard and artistic excellence was woven around unblemished use of technique, draughtsmanship, form, colour and various other elements and principles of Art. With this in mind the jury including Mr. Edosa Oguigo (President, Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria) and Mr. Oliver Enwonwu (Chaiman, Society of Nigerian Artists, Lagos State Chapter) as members, spent judicious time on each artist and his body of work. At the end of the tasking exercise, 40 paintings by 14 artists were selected from a large pool of 84 by 15 artists”.

This first outing of Araism Movement in Abuja is its own way of celebrating the 50th independence anniversary of Nigeria. It is an extension of the Thought Pyramid Art Gallery’s celebration of the same anniversary which it had begun in June this year. The celebration, according to Mr. Jeff Ajueshi, curator of the Gallery, “will continue till the end of the year”.

The exhibition will run till Friday September 17, 2010.

Araism Movement 7: Exhibition by Mufu Onifade et al - Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, 62 Paraku Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Opening 5pm, September 7. On till September 17.