Lagos Biggest Art Auction Kicks off with 104 Pieces

Rebecca Ejifoma

Terra Kulture Mydrim Gallery (TKMG) Auction House is all set to sail its 6^th edition of the annual Lagos art auction with a preview and cocktail slated for Sunday April 24 at the Terra Kulture Art Gallery in Victory Island Lagos at 4p.m.

While the auction will be held on Friday 29 April at the Intercontinental hotel at 6p.m., art aficionados are assured of a sophisticated platform that celebrates Nigeria’s cultural heritage through creative artistry and a blend of artworks from other great West African artists.

This year, there will be a pool of 104 pieces cutting across various media and artists from both Nigeria and West Africa (Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic). There are paintings on canvases, photographs and sculptures.

Interestingly, the walls of Terra Kulture will be splattered with exquisite works ranging from very affordable to pricey artists – both masters and emerging ones. Some of the masters include Bruce Onobrakepya, Kolade Oshinowo, Dele Jegede, Ablade Glover. Emerging artists like Ndidi Emefiele, Dipo Doherty and Makata Obinna.

They include: ‘Market Queens’, ‘Collaboration’, ‘Old Man Face’, ‘Lagos State of Mind (Shine Your Eye), ‘Vintage’, ‘Morning’, ‘How Do I Look’, ‘Man and Machine (Synergy 3), ‘Lady in Thought’, ‘Chief’, ‘Busy Hand’, ‘Afternoon’s Warmth’, ‘Thoughtful Feelings’, ‘ Untitled’, ‘Ebute Meta.’

Others are: ‘Bond’, ‘Owanbe’, ‘Discussion’, ‘Abuja Landscape’, ‘Ogolo Na Emangini’, ‘Friends for Life’, ‘Ekpen Ghamue’ We Ebudezi’, ‘Hustle and Bustle of Lagos’, ‘Female Torso’, ‘Figurative Interogation’ and ‘New Home’.

Unlike the erstwhile years, the Proprietor of Mydrim Gallery, Mrs. Simidele Adesanya expounded that the 2016 edition would offer collectors, art connoisseurs alongside enthusiasts the satiating opportunity to taste and own exceptional works this time. “Although some of the works are from collectors, others are from individuals. We have put in a bit of contemporary works and interesting ones, too.”

Speaking on the low turnout of art lovers at expos and auction, she enthused that the visual art is not like music, drama or theatre arts. “Visual art doesn’t easily arrest attention. It’s an intellectual and discerning eye combined with passion and taste. The number of attendants at music shows and that of art expos are incomparable.   

To buffer even a lengthier solution, the all-time heavyweight curator, Ronke Akinleye, added that while the 2016 Auction will be conducted by seasoned auctioneer, Mr. Yinka Akinkugbe, there will be piece for everyone. “We need young people collecting pieces, too. So, for them to begin to collect, we need to look into their income and consider them.”

Now, despite the economy meltdown, the art auction will still pull through. Akinleye concludes that art has got nothing to do with the downturn. Art is passion. A true art enthusiast will always get a piece.” Adding, she said there would be privilege to network, meet minds, socialise and share views on art; hence, daring on art lovers to stop by for the show.

The preview and cocktail coupled with the auction promise to be much fun than ever with more stunning and interesting arrays hanging on the spaces of the gallery. But most importantly, there will be more pieces hanging on the bridges of all their minds’.