22 Sunday 20 September 2020
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Arts Peju Alatise: The interdisciplinary artist OBINNA EMELIKE
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f you are an avid art collector or enthusiast in Nigeria , the name Peju Alatise will ring a bell in your ear. It is a household name in contemporary African art. The foremost Nigerian female artist, who holds a degree in Architecture, is a mixed-medium artist, poet and published writer, whose interdisciplinary work has garnered attention on the global art stage. She is known for her largescale, sculptural works tackling contemporary themes most recurring of which is gender and its associated politics. With her works, Alatise transcends barriers and questions the status quo in her country and Africa at large. Her guts is commendable and obvious with the passion she addresses social, political and gender-related issues as her primary subject matter, through artistic work that also captures the joys and pain of womanhood in modern-life-African traditions. Alatise, a 2016 fellow at the Smithsonian Institute of African Art, believes that art should tell us more about
Peju Alatise
ourselves, and also initiate social dialogue that enables us to reflect. She has participated in several international solo exhibitions and her works are in private and institutional collections around the world. At 2014 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, her work was generally adjudged to be the standout piece created in response to the kidnapping of 234 Chibok girls. It featured a series of panels of anonymous Nigerian girls using the Ankara fabric. It
was titled, ‘Missing’. Again, she was among the three Nigerian artists, who helped the country to rewrite her story at the Venice Biennale’s 57th edition in Venice, Italy, which Nigeria participated for the first time since the 122 years history of the International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, also known as the Olympics of the art world. At the exhibition, Alatise mirrored the future with her installation tagged, ’Flying Girls. The installation was
Ayanbrin holds MODHAFEST 2020
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yanbirin, a popular female drummer, also known as Olakanye Olayemi Oluwatosin, will hold the maiden edition of MotherDrum Healing Arts Festival (MODHAFEST 2020) from December 4-6, 2020. The festival on the theme, ‘Healing, Hope and Recovery Through Arts’, will be virtual this year. Ho s t i n g t h e f e s t i v a l through her Mother-Drum Healing Arts Foundation, Ayanbirin said the festival would be held in collaboration with Ara Entertainment Productions. MODHAFEST 2020 will
be a three-day most exciting virtual gathering of arts enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, counselors, artists, caregivers, musicians, choreographers, poets, drummers, arts promoters, culture activists, the arts writers and journalist, photographers, media personnel, story tellers, actors, crafts makers, art collectors and the public to transform health and the healthcare experience, as well as, to enjoy the arts. “We would also be having a monthly round-table discussion tagged, “Break The Silence, Break The Stigma” via Zoom. Every last Sunday
of the month at 12 noon EST (11am Central), prominent personnel in the arts and healthcare system around the globe would be invited to have discussions about the societal benefits of early prevention of mental and substance use disorders, the available treatments, the integration of arts to support healing, and also to spread the message of hope that recovery in all its forms is possible,” she explained. The festival, which will be held on Zoom, will feature exhibitions, training, roundtable discussions, researches, pageantry, lectures, symposia, workshops, conferences among other activities. Mother-Drum Healing Arts Foundation Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to utilizing the therapeutic, innovative and recreational process of arts to raise awareness and educate the general public about addiction and mental health challenges (both which feed off each other), which will in turn reduce/eliminate the stigma associated with the conditions, as well as, to enhance healing, offer and inspire hope to individuals struggling with and/ or families affected by these conditions (mostly women and the girl child).
eight life-sized sculptures of girls with wings and birds in mid-flight. As well, the Nigerian female artist was announced as the 2017 recipient of the highly coveted FNB Art Prize at the 10th installment of the FNB JoburgArtFair. “The quality of each of the shortlisted candidates’ proposals this year was high. But we were ultimately unanimous in our decision around Alatise’s proposal – it stood out. The innovative, universal social relevance and
poignancy in the themes underpinning her work were some of the deciding factors in tipping the scales in her favour. The overall body of her work over the years is varied and compositionally strong, palpably reflecting the intense vibrancy of the African continent. We have no doubt that the integrity of the overall body of her work will propel her career meaningfully”, Pulane Kingston, member, the 2017 judging panel for the coveted FNB Art Prize, said. Also commending the creative ingenuity of the artist, Bola Asiru, founder, Red Door, the gallery that nominated Alatise for the FBN Art Prize, said, “Peju’s work is filled with strong societal narratives on the realities of life in Africa; her message has been heard in West Africa, at the Smithsonian in the United States and the Venice Biennale in Europe. We feel that it is time for this message to be taken to the rest of Africa and there is no better platform for this than the FNB JoburgArtFair.” However, Alatise always remembers her days of little beginning. Though her architecture allows her to design,
sketch and draw, her visit to an exhibition of works by David Dale, a living art legend, when she was 15 years ignited her passion for visual art. Inspired by the exhibition, she later paid several visits to the studio of the legendary artist in Lagos mainland to learn from the master. As well, she furthered her interest by several visits to a craft market in Lagos where she mingled and learnt from the creative community. The formal and informal apprenticeships have equipped her with tremendous skills that are evident in her breathtaking works that are sought-after by museums, galleries, corporate and individual collectors across the world today. Moreover, Giles Peppiatt, director of Contemporary African Art at Bonhams, an art auction house in London, is awaiting Alatise’s works because of their growing demands and values at the auctions. If she is not in her studio in Lagos, she is partaking in one residence within or outside the country. But Alatise is always around with her works at museums and galleries. Visit to see her.
Hissbox streaming service, launches with $25,000 grant for young filmmakers IFEOMA OKEKE
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issbox, a new streaming service, has launched. With a focus on ‘telling untold stories,’ the streaming service, which launched on September 11, 2020, offers over 400 pieces of content, including world-class originals, blockbuster films, series, documentaries and more. Speaking on the new offering, Chinecherem Eze, the Nigerian-born, Los Angeles-based, CEO of Hissbox, noted that, “The concern with streaming services today is that despite an extensive volume of offerings, there is still a lack of diversity in available content. We are very excited to say that Hissbox is here to fill this gap.” “Our focus from inception has been a platform where everyone can find content that reflects their uniqueness. We are telling, sharing and searching for exceptional stories from every corner of the world; there is a waiting audience for those stories and Hissbox will reflect that reality”, she added. To kick off their search for ‘unique stories’ across the world, Hissbox has also announced ‘The Hissbox Grant’, funded by the Hissbox Diversity Film Fund (HDFF), which
Chinecherem Eze, CEO of Hissbox
gives producers up to $25,000 in funding for the production of TV series, feature films and documentaries. The HDFF looks out for filmmakers from diverse backgrounds with emphasis that stories are expected to be exceptional: stories with creative risks, which inspire dialogue, and are rarely seen in public media. Starting with free one month access on the platform, Hissbox provides a tiered offering that gives subscribers broad access to Hissbox across web, mobile and connected-TV devices. Hissbox is also very pocket-friendly with monthly
subscriptions from $3.99 only. Founded by Chinecherem Eze, Nigeria- born serial entrepreneur, Hissbox is a streaming platform, film production and distribution company primarily focused on projecting untold, neglected and less told stories. The platform aims to change the narrative of how stories are told by funding original content, collaborating and networking with industry leaders, filmmakers and relevant organisations. It is supported on all devices including connected television screens, desktop, laptops, tablets and on mobile devices.