“NAIJA” , an Exhibition of Contemporary Nigerian Art, organised by the National Gallery of Art, Nigeria at the 8th DAR’KAT Biennale 2008, Dakar, Sengal opened with fanfare.
The Exhibition which was formally declared open by the Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal, Her Excellency, Ambassador Cecilia Azuka Uzoka-Emejulu mni, runs from Monday 12th – Sunday 18th of May at the five star Hotel Sofitel Teranga, located in the high-brow Independence Place area of Dakar.
Amongst the dignitaries that witnessed the occasion were representative of the Minister of Culture of Senegal, Richard Pelletier of Canadian International Development Agency, Prof. Awam Amkpa of the New York University, Folake Idowu, a Nigerian artist based in Geneva and Mr Osaretin Ighile, an internationally acclaimed artist based in New York, who incidentally is the only Nigerian artist selected by the international panel to exhibit in the main exhibition of Dak’art 2008.
Also present were Chief Frank Okonta, President Association of Art Gallery Owners of Nigeria, Prof. Ola Oloidi, a renowned Professor of Art History (UNN), Mr. Kolade Oshinowo, President, Society of Nigerian Artist, Mr. Sammy Olagbaju, a renowned art collector.
In his welcome address, the Director General of the NGA, Chief Joe Musa, ably represented by Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Director Research & Education stated that the motive behind the elaborate outing at this year’s biennial is to provide ample opportunity for as many Nigerian Artists as possible to show case their immense artistic creativity to the international community.
One of the high-points of the NAIJA Exhibition is the “Nigeria Day” which will come up on Wednesday, 14th May 2008.
It is envisaged that the NGA’s participation at this year’s Dak’art 2008 bienniel, will give the much needed boost to Visual Art sector.
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