Press Reviews

Here are some reviews of the exhibition:

This Day review

Compass Newspaper

The Punch

The Guardian

NAN-H-17 Arts Lagos, Feb. 17, 2013 (NAN) Prof. Nnenna Okore of Arts Department, North Park University, Chicago, USA, said on Sunday that the mindset of Nigerian youths could be changed for the better through creative arts. Okore, who made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said that changing the mindset of youths through arts was very vital for the country’s development. The Professor said that engaging youths to develop their skills through the arts would also promote a better awareness of Nigerian arts internationally. ``It will also improve the level of intellectual pursuit in the visual arts sector. ``It will make them believe in themselves, and it is important to encourage them and boost their ego. ``It is important for the youths also to see things around them and use their creative minds to turn them around for better things,'' Okore said. NAN reports that the Arts professor plans to organise an exhibition entitled ``Flow`` at Wheatbaker Hotels, Ikoyi, Lagos beginning from Feb. 18 to April 15. She said uses bodily or plantlike forms, and significance of fabric in our cultural and natural world. ``It is to evoke some reflection about how we can better, preserve and care for our earthbound surroundings,” she said. She explained that, ``I am drawn to uniquely tactile characteristics of the collective physical world. ``I am astounded by natural phenomena that caused things to become weathered, dilapidated and lifeless,” she added. She further said that those events that slowly triggered by aging, death and decay-subtly captured in the fluid and delicate nature of life makes her create several sculptural forms with them. Okore’s inspiration is drawn from finding reusable flotsam and discarded materials which she transforms into intricate sculpture and installations. Some of her processes include dyeing, weaving, sewing, rolling and twisting which she said she learned by watching local Nigerians perform their daily tasks. She uses clay, resin and acrylic, and burlap to do her craft of sculpture. NAN reports that 30 of her works would be on display from Feb 18 to April 15, at the Wheatbaker Hotels Ikoyi, Lagos. Some of her works are ``Nwaada” meaning Maiden, ``Predicament”, ``Consciousness, ``Pride”, ``Aghogho” (young maiden), Igba Nkwu” (wine carrying-traditional Marriage). (NAN) NCI/FF ======  By Nkiru Fulani NAN