Thought Pyramid: Open new doors for arts
All roads led to Ikoyi, Lagos penultimate Saturday as artists and art supporters witnessed the opening of the Lagos arm of the Thought Pyramid Art Centre.
The event, which also featured an art exhibition took place 10 years after its Abuja centre opened.
According to the artistic director, Jeff Ajueshi, the idea of creating the centre was to bring together and encourage participation among artists from diverse backgrounds whilst building common understanding among artists and art lovers.
He said, “Thought Pyramid Art Centre is a creative platform on which the pursuit and spread of knowledge of the arts thrive in line with international best practices. The Centre aims to project the arts and artists who are professionally competent, enterprising and capable of creating works that can comparatively stand the test of time globally.
Ajueshi, whose goal is to ensure that the space is appreciated beyond being just a gallery, added that, “The Centre has been structured to act as a positive agent of change on the art scene across national and international boundaries. In addition to these objectives, Thought Pyramid Art Centre encourages the promotion of art and other creative endeavours.”
The Centre has since inception set up processes to enhance excellence among artists, promote art appreciation and understanding.
Speaking in this regard, renowned artist, Kolade Oshinowo said, “It is commendable and very brave of him (Ajueshi) to have taken the plunge. When he started in Abuja, some of us were sceptical. He must have been emboldened by how Abuja has gone, to set this up in Lagos.”
He said, “It takes a lot of courage these days, with the type of economy we have in Nigeria, to step out with this. His coming is expanding exhibition platforms.”
About 100 works of no less than 50 artists from Nigeria and beyond were displayed on the two floors of the venue.
The works including paintings, mixed media, sculpture and ceramics among others showed a variety of artistic mediums, styles and age group as well as a generational trajectory of artists in Nigeria.
Oshinowo, whose works were also exhibited, said, “What I like about him aside his passion, is that he tends to do it right in terms of the choice of works and display. He deserves every support to encourage others who want to go into such. It is a plus for artists because there are many of us who annually, look for exhibition spaces for our works. With this, we now have an added option.
Nathalie Djakou, a Cameroonian artist whose ceramic pieces were part of the display, was pleased and encouraged that her works were part of the opening exhibition.
“Art is an everyday event and artists support artists and collectors support artists too. But for someone who is not an artist to make such an investment for art, is significant.
For art historian, Faith Uba, it was very striking to see that various mediums of expression were deliberately chosen for the opening. It is a reflection that the event is not just that a new gallery has come to town, but that there is keen interest in promoting visual art across board.
Uba said, “There is a good mix of the past, present and I want to add, the future because there are a lot of beautiful works that people may not have known the artists before now. But being able to see what they produce gives them visibility.
“I can archive all these and tell a great story of cultural diversity, livelihoods, Nigeria’s past history and people’s way of life.”
With art patronage dwindling as a result of economic constraints, there was a call for the Centre to consider younger artists.
An art collector, Lanre Ishola said, “The Centre should consider taking in young artists. A lot of them who are upcoming have beautiful works that are also affordable. Art should be for everybody and not something that is elitist. There are not enough secondary platforms where collectors can view works. This is something Thought Pyramid can harness for young artists.”