PRESS RELEASE
EL ANATSUI THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND (LIMCAF), AS SENATOR CHRIS ANYANWU OPENS THE LAGOS ZONE EXHIBITION.
One of Africa’s most reputable and highest selling studio artists, Professor El Anatsui has come out in firm backing and committed support for the 11-year old Life In My City Art Festival.
This year, the Ghana born Emeritus Professor of Art at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka who has just been announced as the Sculptor Laureate by the Japan Art Association, has undertaken to sponsor all the four House Prize Winners to the next edition of Africa’s most well-known International Art Biennale, the Dak‘Art in Dakar Senegal. This is in addition to a cash donation he made last year to cover some of the LIMACF Prizes.
In another development, well-known former journalist and media proprietor Senator Chris Anyanwu last Saturday opened the Lagos Zone Exhibition of the Festival at the all new Thought Pyramid Art Centre, in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Lagos Exhibition which is one of the forerunner exhibitions (this year others are in Abuja, Ibadan, Auchi, Uyo and Enugu) that serve as selection platforms for young artists whose works will qualify for the Grand Finale Exhibition at the end of October, attracted many prominent artists and enthusiasts including Mr Kolade Oshinonowo, Nkechi Nwosu Ezigbo and Olumide Oresegun. Others included Mr Gboyega Ademola and the Corporate Affairs Director of Airtel Nigeria Mr Emeka Opara.
Opening the Lagos Exhibition Senator Anyanwu remarked that “artists are the windows and the witnesses of our society and its fragility,†adding that “with the penetration of our part of the world by digital media, it is now easy to showcase and market art globally thereby making the art scene more exciting where artists no longer have to go begging from door to door to sell their worksâ€.
The Senator who described herself as an art activist who buys are relating to women’s needs therefore commended LIMCAF for it effort to position art for social development as a strong aspect of the search for the positive transformation of our society.
Kevin Ejiofor
Executive Director
LIMCAF
