Ambivalence : Igwe Achebe renews call on national cultural policy

[MrVan]

By MCPHILIPS NWACHUKWU

Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe,  last week in Lagos reiterated the urgent need to review the much delayed National Policy on Arts and Culture in order to enhance the development of the industry.

Achebe,  renowned patron of the arts, made this call while declaring open 'Ambivalence', an endotelic exhibition of sculptures and  paintings.

Said Achebe," there is an urgent need for the review of our National Policy on Arts and Culture and its implementation with a view to achieving greater relevance and sustainability; such that our art and culture will become key development resources.

*R-L. Emma Mbanefo (Artist), and Igwe Achebe inspecting the exhibition at Nimbus Gallery The policy should provide for massive investments by the government and its agencies; as well as the organised private sector, communities and wealthy individuals. The purpose would be to entrench and popularize arts and culture in our educational institutions as well as build relevant institutions and facilities such as museums, galleries, theatres, etc,  that will bring our arts and culture to the level of the common man.

After all, art should not only be appreciated by the elite for its aesthetic potentials but should also be seen as a major defining element of a people's identity."

The exhibition, 'Ambivalence', scheduled to run until May 6, is a historic first solo of Emmah Mbanefo, whose works in over three decades of practice have enjoyed prominence in public and private collections.

Talking about the theme of the exhibition, the Onitsha Royal Father said: "Ambivalence is premised on the understanding that in all things there is a foundation, one which is predetermined and beyond control. However, that singular foundation is challenged, pushed and pulled as we fight to define ourselves.

Ambivalence is the search for the good spirit of humanity. In exploring ambivalence, the work explores, and sifts through humanity, interrogating emotions and strong feelings."

Ambivalence parades works that embody both the positive and the negative values of humanity. Yet, when one looks deeply through the works one is confronted with the binary thread of humanity: the good and the bad, the ugly and beautiful. And the sweetness and bitterness.

Bruce Onobrakpeya, the internationally renowned printmaker, painter and sculptor in his reaction, commended Mbanefo's mastery of his art and his capacity to deploying his imaginative gift in depicting the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo race and especially, his great Onitsha people.

"Exhibitions and the catalogues that document them are building blocks for moulding the personality of the artist." He said, adding that "They also constitute important materials for writing the history of a people."

Continuing he added, "In Mbanefo's works I see the leitmotif of the mask and the masquerade, which in the Igbo cosmos, particularly the Onitsha Igbo, are the manifestations of the spirit of the world.

The departed ancestors return to the world as masquerades during festivals to interact with the living ones. This is the theme perfected by the pioneer artist and foremost Nigerian sculptor and painter, Ben Enwonwu, in his Ogolo series."

Emmah Mbanefo was born 1960 in Jos, Plateau State. He studied Fine Arts at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, majoring in sculpture and textiles. Over the years, Mbanefo has developed a reputation for producing bold and imaginative works.

Vanguard Nigeria