National Art Competition:

Sabastine Ugwuoke Wins National Art Competition

Artists, they say, are the forerunners of every generation. They are also like barometers through which societies gauge issues of the past, present and future.
In the just concluded National Art Competition, Sabastine Ugwuoke, a Masters degree student in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria Nsukka, has shown excellence in both critical thinking and experimental practice which the art department is, over the years, known for.

Usually, the annual art show gives artists all over the country ample opportunities to creatively express their talents through the use of different kinds of materials that best explains the theme for each year. This year's theme- “Future Histories”, according to the organizers,

seeks to provoke the thought of artists on how innovation and creativity can be utilized as a tool to shape and mold the future history of Nigeria.  Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/

The competition was keenly contested by twelve finalists shortlisted out of over 200 proposals. The African Artists' Foundation whose motive is to promote development of contemporary African art and awareness of social issues through the use of creative artistic expression announced the finalists as: Adetunwase Adenle, Funmi Akindejoye, Michael Ametuo, Chinenye Emelogu, Maryann Kazeem, May Okafor, Stacey Okparavero, Komi Olafimihan, Ngozi Omeje, Babatunde Oyeyemi, Folami Razaq and Sabastine Ugwuoke.

Through rigorous brainstorming, conversations and dialogue with seasoned professionals in the visual arts, shortlisted twelve artists were engaged in a stormy retreat where their proposed ideas and concepts were sharpened and possibly reconstructed. With a space of three months after the retreat, the finalists created art works that were displayed during the competition which took place on November 26th, 2015 at Kongi's Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos. Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/

Prizes that were won were in three categories: First Place Winner, Winner Outstanding Concept and Winner Outstanding Production. After tough deliberations by a team of judges led by a painter and lecturer, Kolade Oshinowo, Sabastine Ugwuoke, a Masters student of Fine and Applied Arts Department, University of Nigeria, Nsukka took the first prize award.

His work titled "No Rest, No Comfort, Confusion Everywhere" buttressed the present Boko Haram menace in the country. It emphasized that if the situation is not handled properly and timely, it will spread to every other part of the country and the world at large, not just North East Nigeria. The work was, therefore, a clarion call to all arms of government, organizations and, of course, individuals to see the perilous future of the menace and be quick to action in curbing its monstrous tentacles. Read More at: https://danelite.blogspot.com.ng/

The work was monitored and supervised by Dr Eva Obodo, the sectional head of sculpture in the Department of Fine and Applied Arts, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

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