LAGOS – A veteran artist, Ndidi Dike, on Wednesday said that the only way the nation’s art works could have global impact was through relative works.
Dike told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was only when there was vibrancy and purpose that the nation’s art works could attract attention from the international community.
“The government is not working with the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) or even gallery owners that have an insight to how the arts world operates internationally.
“It is because of Nigerians living in the Diaspora that Nigerian arts are mentioned or known at all,” she said.
Dike noted that for Nigerian arts to survive, the works should be understudied for it to make global impact.
She noted that arts were not Nigerian arts alone; it should be an international thing.
“Nigerian arts have to key into some of the concepts or themes in the international arena; in terms of our work outlook or production, we should not talk about particular issues.[eap_ad_1]
“We should talk about something that is global that should have African content but can be perceived globally.
“We should have a different definition from Nigeria and say through painting what is happening all over the world,” she said.
The artist lamented that it was just unfortunate that government was not collaborating with body of artists to make this work.
“Again, you ask yourself what does National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), National Gallery of Arts (NGA) and Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture do for individual artists.
“There is no artist you can call today that can categorically state that the ministry of culture did something for me and my practice and productive development.
“Everybody keeps saying we don’t have to rely on government but even at that one of the purposes for which it is set up is to help promote artists.
“Until there seem to be a synergy between these two different departments, arts are not going to remain very relevant,” she added. (NAN)[eap_ad_4]
