By Janefrances Chibuzor

The long-awaited 15th edition of Life In My City Art Festival(LIMCAF), has extended beyond empowering young artists, to promoting art and offering young people an avenue to showcase their artworks. But, the exhibition has created a notable national and international art tourist destination in Enugu, where it started.

This was disclosed by LIMCAF, Director of Art, Dr Ayo Adewunmi, at the recent opening of the exhibition held at Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Lagos. 

However, the festival, which witnessed a two-year hiatus following the covid-19 pandemic is aimed at contributing through a fresh grass-roots perspective to the growth of art and art tourism in Nigeria.

The exhibition featured about 34 artworks across diverse mediums with different titles, sizes and years; the exhibition will be held across other key regions. The regions include Abuja, Ibadan, Osun, Port Harcourt, Auchi,  Oyo and  Enugu. 

Dr Adewunmi noted that the five-day exhibition, which began on Wednesday, August 3, 2022, through Sunday, August 7, 2022, has involved young people in a national interactive visual art fiesta in various centres within the country.

With its theme ‘Paradox Of Muted Echoes’, the exhibition enabled the participants the opportunity to express themselves on the state of their lived environment through art.

He said, “The theme for this year suggests that things may not always be the way they are perceived. It also seems to suggest that sometimes, silence being a vital part of sound, maybe a potent device, to enable us to hear from within, but it still prevents a paradox.”

He disclosed that the selection process was in three stages;  Stage one is an online election by the National jury of works that are suitable for regional exhibition. Stage two is a physical exhibition of selected entries in the regions. At this stage, the local jury will sight the physical works and select the best artworks that will be part of the top 100 for the grand finale Exhibition in Enugu. Stage three is the grand finale exhibition of the top 100 artworks in Enugu. At this stage, the national jury will assemble in Enugu to review, rank the top 100 as well as decide on various awards.’

“For over 15 years, LIMCAF has created and sustained a platform which has empowered more than 1500 young artists, promoted art pan-Nigeria through the annual competition that offers young people an avenue to showcase and commercialise their productions. Won handsome prizes and interact with the larger art community on a national and international basis.”

The event will climax with a grand finale exhibition, which would be held between 23 – 29 October 2022; and the award night is scheduled for October 29, at International Conference Centre, Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu.

In his opening remark, the Executive Director of LIMCAF, Chief Kelvin Ejiofor, noted that the day between the opening day and Sunday, August 7, is set aside for exhibition. According to him, ‘there are eight regions for this year.

Ejiofor pointed out, ‘This year we have to shrink the number of regions. He, therefore, likened the shortage of entries to the Academic Staff Union of Universities strike: He thereby, declared that such circumstances would make very impossible for young people to compete.

He stressed that ‘we normally have entries up to  400, 500, 700 and thereabouts but this year we have 270 entries the lowest in a long time,’ he noted.

He commended MTN Nigeria Foundation for their support while appealing for sponsorship and support from other corporate bodies.

“Everybody appreciates art but not everybody is able to manifest the appreciation. They would not know they are appreciating art because art is life,” he added.

 Special Guest of Honour, Dr Kunle Filani said, “The promotion of young artists was very critical to the critical environment.

 “The art festival has each year quite a number of young artists competing and was able to identify areas a number of them have transcended from local level to international level.

He noted that apart from using the platform of LIMCAF to showcase their skill performance and other art-related activities. They should know art is about critical thinking translated through your visions and reason in art. Beyond, ‘the final product of the art itself, the process of it can give you space in participating in many things about art.

Meanwhile, he advised them to focus on the vision, even as creativity is paramount.

In attendance at the LIMCAF exhibition were Mr Ovie Owatsola, Dr Ayo Adewunmi, and Mr Dennis Okoro among other art stakeholders. Manager, Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Mr Ovie Omatsola said,  ‘we have this mentality to be part of pioneering art stakeholders in Nigeria. Apart,  from just selling arts and promoting arts, we also concentrate on artists’ welfare by supporting and nurturing them and that formed the next of kin idea. And next of kin in the creating aspect, we are talking about the young artists that will take over from old masters.

We are very happy to be part of the LIMCAF and the partnership has been on since 2015.  We want to be more functional in the society where we are operating. And that is why we went further to support and encourage artists, especially young ones.’

Earlier, Dr Adewunmi noted that there would be a competition where organisers would create a thriving platform for young artists to showcase their works and talents. 

According to him, the programme was not about awards but opportunities which, would enable them to work with the team.

As a visual artist, Okechukwu Martha said, “I have been painting since 2016 after graduating from school. And I want to be selected as one of the 15 top artists that will be in Enugu for the grand finale.”

About the author

Janefrances Chibuzor is a CIAPS Graduate of Media & Communication.