Please, Don't Return Nigerian Artworks in Foreign Art Galleries and Museums

Please, Don't Return Nigerian Artworks in Foreign Art Galleries and Museums

#art #history #gallery #contemporaryart #painting #artgallery #fineart #heritage #nigeria #artist #education #arts
#museums #artcollection #curator #conservation #preservation #drawings #artexhibition

If you see the dilapidated buildings in the National Museum and National Gallery of Arts in Lagos, you will not want the Nigerian artworks in foreign museums to be returned to Nigeria.Because, Nigerians cannot preserve or protect our artworks. They are better preserved and safer in American and European art galleries and museums.

My masterpiece of painting, "Blessed Mother" I made live in the Education Unit of the National Museum in Onikan on the Lagos Island was later missing from the museum and never found till date. Some of my colourful illustrations were missing at the UNICEF in Nigeria in 1988 and not found till date.

The private art galleries don't have the funds and management for the preservation of artworks and many of the galleries have incompetent staff without certification in art curation or preservation. Many galleries have  closed without any any records of the whereabouts of the artworks. I have lost priceless works without trace when custodians relocated without notice.

Nigerians cannot preserve our artworks.
Please, don't return them to Nigeria.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima 

Publisher/Editor, 

NOLLYWOOD MIRROR®Series 

247 Nigeria (@247nigeria) / Twitter

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Happy Birthday Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya

Happy Birthday great man of the arts.

I am happy for you with all the thanksgivings to Almighty God for blessing you with long life and prosperity.

Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya is one of the greatest artists of all time.

I am proud to have been tutored by him and I made him proud by representing Nigeria as an illustrator at two international book fairs cosponsored by the UNESCO in Japan in 1983. I was the youngest participant among lecturers, including professors. Then in 1993, I had the honour as a curator to include his unique artworks in the 1993 World AIDS Day Art Exhibitions at the National Museum and National Arts Theatre in Lagos, Nigeria. If there was a Nobel Prize for fine arts, he would have won it.

He is also the most published African artist in contemporary modern art.