THE WHEAT BAKER UNVEILS PERMANENT ART COLLECTION
For the next two weeks, the permanent art collection of Wheat baker Hotel will be on display for public viewing. This is the first time in six years that the home of hospitality will be showcasing its collection of 30 exquisite pieces of paintings, sculptures and mixed media works from leading and emerging artists. These artists include award-winning artists such as Olu Amoda and Peju Alatise as well as Billy Omabegho, Tayo Adenaike and Obiora Anidi.
This exhibition is deemed quite timely as it comes on the heels of West Africa's premiere art fair, Art X and the African Culture and Design Festival (ACDF) with delegates from over 100 countries.
To celebrate this special unveiling titled, “The Art of Collecting”, a panel discussion by seasoned Nigerian and international collectors was organised in collaboration with Sterling Bank and Louis Guntrum was featured. It was preceded by a welcome address by the curator, Sandra Mbanefo-Obiago, the founder, SMO Contemporary Art who described the event as “the vital intersection between culture, design and art for our human development”.
Next, the director of Wheat baker, Mosun Ogunbanjo revealed the reason for the boutique hotel's special interest in art. “We have always seen art as an integral part of our corporate DNA, allowing our guests to find solace and inspiration from what is displayed on our walls," she said. "Before we completed the hotel, we had set aside significant resources for art, and continue to invest in providing an important regular platform for local and international artists through our quarterly exhibitions."
The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelemah expressed satisfaction at seeing Nigeria play host to IFI Congress in Lagos, paving way for more delegates at the congress to attend Wheat baker’s permanent art collection opening.
The panellists' session was moderated by Papa Omotayo, an architect and art enthusiast also referred to as “urban activist”. He fired up the light-hearted talks with questions that reached the depth of conversations around collecting art.
For Professor Ebun Clark, investing in art collecting is personal, emotional and sometimes nationalistic. She identified personal interest as one of the essentials of art collecting. On a broader perspective, she recounted how she and her husband, the renowned playwright and scholar, J. P. Clark fought to keep antiques in Nigeria and even getting the military government to promulgate a decree to protect them.
“Collecting art is very addictive,” she said, as she recalled how she had been torn between art collecting and caring for her children especially in mid-70s when the country reeled from economic crises. Evidently, Prof Clark has no regret for temporarily abandoning art collection because till date, she is still a proud owner of a 1957 painting while selling off those that brought some financial benefits. She is a member of the art collective, Mbari Club in Ibadan and that played a major influence in her experience as a lover of the arts.
“You need to have not just the passion but knowledge of what you are buying,” she said.
Femi Akinsanya, another ardent collector, argued that art collection is a practice that is fairly limited.
“But with the development of auction houses, there's an emerging market for art but the scope of the market needs to be widened. Artists should be driven by their creativity and not the commercial pressure,” he said. “Gallery owners need to recruit different kinds of artists so that they can concentrate on the art.”
He advised art collectors to be more discriminatory in their practice. According to him, this will help them set rules of engagement. He expressed concern on the “absence of art critics” in the art scene.
“No one is bold enough to criticise the art works,” he said. For Obiago, collecting art is a generational culture.
“My mother used to collect ceramic pots,” she disclosed. “She bought five pieces by El Anatsui and it’s exciting to have those pieces that represent values of investment. I am a collector. I curate what I can buy. From my film perspective, I like works that tell the stories especially about the issues in our society.”
Jess Castollote, a renowned collector, architect and co-author of the book, Collecting Art- A Handbook said that collectors play a very important role of picking out artists and legitimising them.
The collectors stressed the need for supporting institutions for the art such as contemporary museums that can preserve art works and private collections.
The book, Ladies Calling The Shots, written by Niran Adedokun, a Lagos based public relations practitioner, columnist and lawyer was presented at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs last Monday The event, chaired by former Ogun State Governor, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who was represented by Mr Lanre Idowu had dignitaries that included Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode, who was represented by His commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde; Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Ms
Hadiza Bala Usman, represented by Executive Director, Finanance and Administration, Mr. Mohammed Bello Koko; Wife of Kwara State Governor, Dcns Omolewa Ahmed represented by Mr. Lanre Bello, CEO of NECCI, Mrs Nkechi Ali-Balogun; President of the Nigerian Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) and Senior Pastor of The Fountain of Life Church, Ilupeju, who was represented by Pastor Paul Briggs. Ten of the ladies profiled in the book also graced the event in addition to friends and family members of the author. Bellow are a some pictures from the event.