By Ibrahim Ramalan
Exhibition of art and artistic designs are a creative media intervention that is aimed at fostering national development as it serves as a platform for community education and archive of historical communications. Of recent, art is really beginning to be given an increasing tempo of attention by the national policy makers.
This was witnessed when the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed opened a four-day commemorative art exhibition with the theme: “The Art of the Benin Kingdom,’’ aimed at showcasing the exquisite Benin art in the national collection, alongside art works produced by some Benin artists.
The exhibition, which is established in commemoration of the coronation of the new Oba of Benin, in Benin City, contains various genre of art such as paintings, sculpture, and textiles. The gallery is to operate under the National Gallery of Art (NGA), Benin Art Exhibition.
During the opening ceremony, the Minister hailed the very rich cultural history and tradition of the ancient Benin Kingdom, recalling that it was one of the famous destinations during the exploitation of the African continent by the Europeans.
Alhaji Mohammed said the people of Edo, whom he described as ‘’highly skilled’’ in the arts and crafts, have continued to maintain the rich legacy of the Benin Kingdom with their colorful festivals and
engagement in arts production such as pottery, basket-making, cane furniture, cloth-weaving, mat-making and gold-smiting to generate income and create jobs.
The Minister however lamented the plundering of the priceless pieces of Benin art works during the attack on the ancient Benin Kingdom by the British in 1897.
“Although some of the works have been repatriated, till date some other choice works are still adorning exhibition spaces in museums across Europe and Britain. For instance, the Idia Ivory mask, official symbol of the 2nd World Black Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC ’77) which took place in Nigeria in 1977, is still on display in a British museum,’’ he said.
