In association with Coronation Group Ltd., the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) has unveiled a permanent exhibition of the late Ben Enwonwu's 1956 sculptural masterpiece of Queen Elizabeth II.
The exhibition, “Building a Nation: Ben Enwonwu and the Impact of Sculpture”, was launched on Tuesday at the NCMM in Lagos. It was also presented in collaboration with Fine Art Auctioneers Bonhams.
The exhibition involved a dynamic look at the career of Nigerian master sculptor, the late Enwonwu, as the exhibition took art lovers through the process of producing the masterpiece.
It also featured some of the artist's world-famous works, highlighting his influence on Nigerian and Pan-African art around the world.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bronze sculpture of Elizabeth II by Ben Enwonwu was commissioned by the Queen on her visit to Nigeria in 1956. She posed for Mr Enwonwu in London in 1957. He completed it in London and exhibited it. at the Royal Society of British Artists exhibition in November 1957.
The life-size statue represents the Queen sitting with her hands in her lap.
Olugbile Holloway, Managing Director of NCMM with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Coronation Group Ltd National Treasure
During the exhibition, Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, described the late Enwonwu as a national treasure whose works must be visible.
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Musawa also spoke about the role of cultural preservation in nation-building.
“Ben Enwonwu is one of the national treasures, not only of Nigeria but of Africa. This is something I think all Nigerians and Africans should keep in mind.
“One of our main mandates as a ministry and as a government is to work for the private sector. Of my eight-point agenda, I think for us number five is really the public-private partnership, and we have incorporated that into every project we are doing,” he said.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Coronation Group Ltd., highlighted the need for the private sector to be an integral part of Africa's cultural preservation movement. He said: “The private sector has a role to play in these preservation efforts, whether from a funding perspective, launching its galleries, celebrating local art or helping to promote the work of both contemporary and classical artists.
“We are very proud to help make Enwonwu’s work more accessible to the Nigerian public.”
Mr Aig-Imoukhuede noted that art and culture remain the strongest assets that Africa has given to the world. He revealed how his understanding and belief in excellence were revealed through art.
He said this was when he was four years old, when his mother worked as a museum staff member and he had to visit the place after school every day.
“I started coming to this museum when my mother worked here as a curator when I was four years old. I think the most important things that Africa has given to the world are art and culture. I remember hearing debates in this museum about who inspired who, Picasso or Enwonwu. “My understanding and belief in excellence was revealed in art, not in banking, not in finance, not in science, not in technology, but in art,” he said.
Aig-Imoukhuede noted that given the enormous importance of the art, the Coronation Group will subsequently commit to preserving its works in the museum.
Given the current dollar exchange rate, he said Enwonwu's masterpiece, Queen Elizabeth II, was a priceless work of art.
“Therefore, I encourage you to grab a piece of history and have your photo taken with this priceless work. Send it, tweet it. Let people know that we are taking Nigerian and African art to a new level. We need to give our children and our children's children the experience we have. We will therefore preserve this museum and maintain and support the work of Gbile and other leaders in the arts and culture sector who work for the government.
“We will do it like every other nation does because government will never be enough, where people like you and I will step up as individuals and institutions and do whatever it takes to preserve our arts and culture.
“I don't know how long it will take, but I hope we invite everyone back to look at the transformation, their storage areas and everything that needs to be done,” he said.
Ancient Nigerian art and modern artistic expressions.
According to Olugbile Holloway, Director General of NCMM, the exhibition draws parallels between ancient Nigerian art and modern artistic expressions.
Holloway said this was achieved by exploring Enwonwu's role in shaping cultural and national identity, particularly in the years before Nigeria's independence.
“Today we are here to pay tribute to the past. Not only our fight for independence but also the spirit of self-determination that burned throughout our continent at that time. I am not sure if it is possible to speak of an agenda of renewed hope without first alluding to a renewed heritage.
“The National Museums and Monuments Commission remains committed to ensuring that our past does not decompose, and I invite you all to join us on this epic journey,” he said.
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Researcher and art historian Neil Coventry explained that sculptures have been powerful vehicles for capturing and preserving cultural narratives throughout history. He said Enwonwu's latest work used the sculptural form to delve into complex themes such as African identity and Nigerian artistic narrative.
“This exhibition highlights the importance of storytelling through Enwonwu sculptures, which bring historical, spiritual and social narratives to life, connecting Nigeria’s past to its future,” he said.
(YAYA)