Vanguard, THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 — 53
As We Vote – Save The Nigerian Art
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•Bente Vindvik putting finishes touches on a work
Nordic View, Bente Vindvik's parting gift to art lovers By Japhet Alakam
B
ENTE Vindvik is a Nor wegian born painter. She had participated in many solo and group exhibitions in her country Norway and in Angola where she stayed for sometime before coming to Nigeria. And after spending over four years in Nigeria, Norwegian born painter is set to share her art with art lovers in and around Lagos, before she finally leaves in May with a solo art exhibition tagged A Nordic View of Nigeria, an exhibition of Drawings and painting. The exhibition which can be seen as her parting gift is scheduled to open today, 5th of March and run to March, 14th at Quintessence Gallery, Parkview Estate main entrance, Gerard Road, Ikoyi and will feature her view about Nigeria in the last four years.
Different techniques Bente Vindvik, who stated that her mission as an artist has always been to recreate what she see in her own very personal way actually reflected that in her latest exhibition where she will showcase about 16 works done in different techniques that depicts some of those things she has seen, experienced and felt about the country Nigeria. With good use of colours, she paints out her emotions in most of the works. Some of the works include The Blue people, The Blue woman; The past; Independent; Blue Tulip; Small talk and others. The artists who confessed that her more than 4 years stay in Nigeria and the experiences, had transformed in her head and become her own special, colourful birds, said that “in Nigeria, peo-
ple dress in so many colours. That gives me inspiration that sometimes lead to nonfigurative images in my head. There is activity everywhere and that energy is also inspiring. The colours and energy of Lagos gets transformed into images. Some may see only colours in my pictures. For it is so con•The Blue people by Bente nected to what inspired me that I see both col- not like a photo.” Another piece, The Blue woman where she recour and images.” Speaking about the piece, reates a metaphoric view of the Small talks, which depicts two Nigerian women whom she debirds facing each other, prefer- scribes as strong and believe in ably talking to each other, Bente the future. In his artistic statement, Bente said that the painting was what she recreated from the colour- said, “I am not a naturalist, even ful birds that she sees from their if I sometimes find inspiration in building. “From my window I trying to recreate people and see out on the canopy of the re- other living things as accurately mains of the forest that once cov- as possible. Light fascinates me ered our part of Ikoyi. I see col- because in Norway we have a ourful birds that inspire me to lot of light in summer with very recreate them on canvass, but long days.” Continuing, she expressed her view about Africa too, saying that it is colour, the colour of people, their dresses and the colour of nature. My first contact with this I am not a magnificent continent was Angola where I stayed for three naturalist, even years and travelled a lot. if I sometimes Everywhere you had the red, Ochre coloured sand and vegfind inspiration etation shifting from deep green in trying to to the greyness of semi-arid coastal areas. I had opportunity recreate people to work with local artists and to and other livexhibit together with them on occasion. It gave me a lot of ining things as spiration to be in that environaccurately as ment which is so different from possible my home country.”
E are not sure that Mr. President has been properly informed of the reasons why the cradle of Nigerians artistic creativity needs to be sold to the Arab Emirate to be converted to a replica of the Dubai Mall and to build a Five Star Hotel in the name of Hospitality and nation building for Tourism We appreciate the fact that the Minister for Culture and Tourism has the expertise in Hotel Management and welcoming tongue of hospitality. That may be sufficient qualities for Tourism Ministry, but not to kill the Arts and Culture. No bird can fly with one bald wing. The Arts and Culture wing has almost lost all its feathers. For two decades the prestigious and magnificent Bulgarian master piece acquired for our nations prestigious hosting of the World’s Black Festival (FESTAC) has lost its shine and out of function. The main bowl of the auditorium has not been used at all for two decades. “We thank God for the presence of National Council for Arts and Culture (N.C.A.C) in the premises to have created room to establish an artists Village for creative artists and enabling environment for Sculptors, fine Artistes, dancers, singers, and instrumentalists etc to exist and function. This cradle of artistic community is indeed the first of its kind in West Africa. It attracts Tourists and provides the most useful artistic information about the people called Nigerians. If this portfolio is too loaded to be under one Ministry, we wish to suggest a separate Ministry for the Arts and Culture. The prospect of such Ministry has great advantages. If well managed it will be a leading income generator for our nation just like it has done for the American ‘Broadway’ establishment. The Tourists will come to see our Arts and know
Your reign will exhume the memories of our heroes, artists, politicians, sportsmen and women
our people. Tourism is not to impose foreign culture on our home and invite strangers to come and enjoy the hospitality of a foreign culture. Mr. President may recall that after his generous bonanza on the Arts sector, I wrote an “Open Letter to the President” thanking him and in the same vein suggesting that we do not go ‘cap in hand’ to collect our shares individually but to build a HALL OF FAME FOR NIGERIA to preserve our cultural heritage in art history like England’s Madam Tusaud in London and provide work for the painters sculptors, writers, photographers etc for the next five years indeed for a good number of top professional artists to make their prints in the nation’s history. By their works they shall be remembered. The premises, indeed the complex that constitute the National Theatre is large enough to contain this suggested Hall of Fame without destroying the existing concept of Artists Village, NICO ((National Institute of Cultural Orientation, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). What better way to introduce Nigeria and its people for Tourists to see?
Monumental museum of arts A Dubai style shopping mall decked with yet another Five Star Hotel or a National and monumental museum of arts and humanity that will display our ‘heroes past’. Mr. President sir, please consider favourably the choice of the latter and perpetuate the good works of your time. We see the reforms in Railroad, Maritime Roads, Education and others. What about the arts. The Arts will build a perfect permanent and organic legacy to remember, the reign of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. There has never been one like you. Your reign will exhume the memories of our past heroes, artists, politicians, sportsmen and women, world champions encapsulated in a hall of fame and to keep the spirit alive we ask for social security and retirement benefit for established artists. Most artists work until death or work till they are tired and wait for death and die before their time. The consolation is ‘AWARDS’ without cash to cushion their lives. The national awards and awards of excellence and the latest is “life time Achievement Award all of which carry no financial reward. They’re left to jump on ‘molue’ with medals dangling on their chests.