Quick Takes

RMB Nigeria Hosts Art Exhibition

As part of the fifth anniversary celebratory activities of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria (RMB Nigeria) artists Uche Joel Chima and Kelani Abass have been invited to exhibit pieces from their most recent bodies of work.Chima and Abass are well established artists and have exhibited internationally. Using storytelling, their collections reflect on society, work, memory and identity. A statement from the bank explained that the exhibition would also feature works by emerging artists currently in or recently graduating from tertiary instiutions. “The pieces from Olarinde Ayanfeoluwa, Akin Aluko, Washington Masdioluwa and Chioma Ekpetorson provide a thoughtful lens, which capture the everyday and shared emotions of their subjects. “At RMB, we believe art, culture and creativity have been the glue that binds together, not only hearts and souls, but entire societies and nations.“And which also lifts the heaviness and lightens the darkness. That is one of the reasons we do not only invest in and support businesses and the economy; we also invest in and support the arts,” the CEO of RMB Nigeria, Michael Larbie said. He pointed out that the bank support the arts because it believes that the creative economy has the potential to generate economic growth, employment and trade.“And we believe that the growth of this sector will enable many more Africans to engage effectively and profitably in the broader economy.“In South Africa, RMB is recognised as driving growth in the creative economy through supporting initiatives for both audience development and artist exposure in many forms of the creative arts, including music, dance, drama and visual arts.b“In Nigeria, we aim to support artists and organisations to develop and support a creative mindset for a creative economy,” he added.