The Guardian (Nigeria)

At show, Aregbesola seeks artists, govt partnershi­p for creative developmen­t

- From Odita Sunday, Abuja

FORMER Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has urged talented artists to approach Ministries Department­s and Agencies for partnershi­p that will birth creative ideas and practices aimed at enhancing the growth of the nation.

Aregbesola, who spoke recently at an art event organised by the Interior Ministry, maintained that though government has its role to play in promoting art, citizens, including inmates in correction­al facilities, should also feel free to exhibit their talents in a way th at will promote nation building.

In his wordss: “Civilians, who are talented, and art inclined bodies should partner with the service for exhibition. You need to visit our correction­al facilities to see what we do, it’s not as if inmates with talents and creative abilities are suppressed in any way, we allow them to express themselves, as regards organising exhibition­s, as good as that idea is, artists should partner with openings either as a ministry or correction­al service and we will gladly support it.”

Commenting on the Outdoor Mural Impression on the ministry’s walls, Aregbesola revealed that he had executed similar artistic projects in Osun State during his administra­tion as Governor as well in Lagos during his tenure as Commission­er for W orks and

Infrastruc­ture.

While saying the entire process of art inspires him, the minister said: “Art is an expression of precision and acute sense of observatio­n, which is related to mathematic­s, but in its own separate and independen­t form.”

The Project Coordinato­r, Athanasius Akojuru, who was working on the site, explained the steps to getting a perfect mural.

Akojuru said attention must be paid to details, as each drawing tells a story about the ministry and the agencies it supervises.

“You must first use chemicals to smoothen the wall, so that whatever paint you apply will come out clean, after that, we now sketch and transfer the art to the wall using a projector before finally painting.,” he said.

Akojuru added that technology has made mural art easier compared to the days where sketching were done by drawing grid lines with hands.

 ?? ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Nigeria