IZUCHUKWU EPUEKE
17 November 2021
The Life in my City Art Festival, LIMCAF, says it would sustain and promote its yearly art exhibition in Enugu, despite the challenges.
LIMCAF Art Director, Ayo Adewunmi, who stated this on Wednesday during the official opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Art Festival, said the decision is to make Enugu a hub for young artists to establish themselves.
According to him, the Festival provides residents of Enugu an opportunity to appreciate exhibited art works by artists from different parts of the country and also encourage young ones to seek career in the profession.
Adewunmi revealed that 550 artists across the six regional centres to participate were selected for the art exhibition, noting that 18 best artists will be sponsored to participate in African Art Exhibition in Dakar, Senegal.
“We see Life in my City as a spring bond for young Nigerian artists to begin their professional practice.
“And it is joy for us when they come and participate in Life in my Art Festival and we see them progressing professional hereafter because they have the platform where their works at re exposed to the public.
“The fact that they could come in, get their work sold and win handsome award is interesting for us.
“For example this year, there are going to be about 18 major awards given to the young Nigerian artists, the overall winning prize is #500,000 and we have other give other categories with about #250,000 each.
“The grand finale of the ceremony will hold on Saturday here at the International Conference Centre, IMT in Enugu”,. Adewunmi added.
The President, Pan-African Circle of Artists, PACA, Nigeria Council, Mrs. Helen Uhunmwagho, said LIMCAF has motivated young artists to be focus as well as to do more.
She noted that aside the rewarding the best artists, the Art Festival also assist to strengthen and correct artists, whose works did not make it to the final stage.
“Art is one very important tool for national development because it critiques the society. It critiques the happenings.
“It also proffers solutions to whatever needs to be brought forth.
“So in the process, people who have come in contact with some art works and what they are saying are able to get the message”, Uhunmwagho said.
In an interview, one of the participating artists, Miss Chioma Okoli, while showcasing her work title “Butterflies in my Belly”, said it depicts the hardship Nigerians were subjected to in 2020 because of Covid-19 pandemic.
“Covid-19 is there beating everyone all over the world. But in Africa, especially Nigeria, we have issues where by people can’t afford to eat .
“But we have the government, for our own good yes, they are trying to impose on us to wear the face mask for protection.
While in the street of Nigeria, Anson the heart of every Nigeria and in the bellies of every kid in Nigeria, there is hunger, starvation and death.
“Now the main virus we have is the hunger and not actually Covid-19”, the artist hinted.
