In living up to its reputation as a distinctive platform of adept art showcase, the 2024 edition of the Art Miabo International Arts Festival interrogated the diverse realm of art and its creators and expanded beyond regular themes in the visual arts horizon.
As it was in its previous two editions, the AMIAF 2024, which ran from April 29 – May 1, 2024, at the EbonyLife Place, Victoria Island Lagos, celebrated the pivotal contributions of industry trailblazers, displaying their indispensable role in shaping the artistic landscape. AMIAF founder, Miabo Ngozi Enyadike, during a chat with The Guardian identified Artmiabo as an Art idea and the idea itself being sold as a brand advocates for every artist as an entrepreneur. “If you create something and you want people to admire and pay for it, then you’re selling. This is what I’ve done for years. I started selling art before I even started creating art. So, most collectors and people didn’t know I was an artist.
Miabo noted the challenges and opportunities in the art market, including understanding market trends and investment fees, consistent performance, and strong collector base. Elaborating on art investment and market trends, she urged the need for authenticity of African art, the importance of exposure for collectors, education and expertise in business, social media in business, performance in managing collectors and making sales then collectors’ exhaustion and investment trends in the art market.
On the question of whether artists should study market algorithms in concerned climes before art endeavors, he said in the end, it all depends on the artist, his creative leanings, philosophy and business mindset. On his part, he has chosen certain unusual approaches in response to the demands of business in art. For example, Popoola would restrict collector’s number of acquisitions where his works are concerned.
Prince Shyllon is currently regarded as Nigeria’s largest private art collector, with over 7,000 artworks of sculptures, paintings and other media, as well as over 55,000 photographic shots of Nigeria’s cultural festivals. International Media Strategist and AMIAF patron, Emeka Enyadike stressed on the importance of specialization in business. He noted that no matter what field a person acquired knowledge or venture in by course of study, specialisation is pertinent.
One of the master exhibitors, Dr. Adeola Balogun, Lecturer in the Fine Arts Department of the Yaba College of Technology, acknowledged the importance of the business side of the art venture or practice. “Unfortunately, most artists have been less inclined to scope of the enterprising area of art, especially marketing”, he noted.
He noted the quality of creative endeavors in the field where sculptors have been able to expand their artistic effort into metal, bronze, fibre glass etcetera.. Adeyemi pressed for more specialized exposure for artists and the needed platform for development and enabling environment for more opportunities.
As a yearly large scale exhibition, AMIAF made its debut and second editions at the same venue when it showcased over 24 artists from within and outside Africa in 2022 and 2023 respectively. A special feature during the three-day 2024 edition was the musical performance of Afrobeat singer, Madè Kuti, son of international Afrobeat sensation Femi Kuti.
The National Health Service defines processed food as any food that has been altered in some way during preparation.