Arrangements have reached conclusive stages for the maiden TR Residency Programme.
Dr Tony Rapu is a sponsor of the art residency and LVI Art Gallery and Cultural Nexus, Lagos, is providing technical support.
A collaboration between Tony Rapu Production and LVI Gallery, the art residency is geared towards improving their creativity and exposing them to the global art world. It will see some young Nigerian artists benefit from a programme that
In a chat with the media, Julius Iyoghiojie, managing director of LVI Art Gallery & Cultural Nexus, said the programme, which has as theme, ‘TR Residency’, would have six artists participate in the maiden edition scheduled to hold from September 1 to November 20, 2022.
“The artists on residency would be painting on canvas for three months and we will be having three males and three females,” Iyoghiojie said. “Our criteria for picking them include ensuring they are educated and are below age 30.”
According to him, LVI Art Gallery and Cultural Nexus will be providing technical support throughout the programme. “The gallery will be promoting the artists while the artists are to supply the gallery with artworks,” he said.
Iyoghiojie explained that the residency programme would allow guest artists to work in a comfortable environment, where their every need is catered for including, health insurance to enable them to concentrate and participate fully.
He noted that the artists would be given a one-year insurance plan, monthly allowance, and free medical care and would be exposed to mentorship programmes.
He said at the end of the residency programme, works produced during the period of the residency would be shown to the public.
While saying the artists will be able to fully evaluate and appreciate arts, Iyoghiojie said: “We are investing in this, because we believe that the growth of Nigerian artists is important.”
Iyoghiojie, an engineer by training, who ended up becoming an art collector and promoter with 27 years of experience, hinted that recent development in the Nigerian music industry, which has elicited interest the world over, such that many are desirous of collaboration with Nigerian artists, to him, is one reason his gallery has continued to make brave attempts at the documentation of the Nigerian art.
Located on Henry Ojogho Crescent, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, the gallery is a one-stop shop for arts, artists, art products, creativity and related goods.
According to him, the three-year-old gallery, which started with N11, 000 given to him by his mother has grown to become an organisation that promotes arts and culture internationally and locally.
He noted that his gallery was focused on the promotion of contemporary Nigerian culture, arts, dance and music to achieve strong global brands. “We are trying to engage in arts promotion in Nigeria and we are passionate about this,” he said.
Art documentation, he explained has become better and easier with digital space, which helps to authenticate the documentation by recording digital footprints such as the time and date the art products were uploaded to the digital space.
He said the gallery was working on connecting arts and tourism with the combination of an art gallery, photo studio, framing studio, games arena, printing and laminating zones.
According to him, the essence of the framing and photo studios was to ensure quality control, good customer service, speedily service delivery and reliability in delivery.
Iyoghiojie urged parents to allow their wards to engage in arts early enough as this would go a long way in boosting their level of creativity especially now that Nigerians are more appreciative and lovers of artwork.
