NIGERIAN CURATORSHIP AND THE EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART WORKS
NIGERIAN CURATORSHIP AND THE EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN ART WORKS
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Date
2004-09
Authors
NICHOLA, SAUNDERS
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Abstract
The work of this thesis contributes to debates about cultural representation as it
relates to the exhibition of contemporary African art works. The central themes of
enquiry are the qualification and quality of Nigerian curatorship, and what
contributions Nigerian curators are making in the redefinition of contemporary African
art works, in light of the current debate into the misrepresentation of African art works
by Western curators. The focus of investigation is the extent to which provision for
curatorial scholarship is considered within course curriculum at institutes of higher
education within Nigeria, and the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary Nigerian
curatorial practice. The central questions taken for analysis are: Why are so few
curators of Nigerian decent internationally recognized? Whose values and tastes
influence the Nigerian curators selection criteria? What is the value of indigenous
curators in the organization of international exhibitions of contemporary African art
works? What can be done to encourage a new direction in the reception of
contemporary African art works? The hypothesis of the study is that “an indigenous
curator is best informed to curate exhibitions of contemporary art derived from his or
her own culture, and therefore should dominate in the organization of such
exhibitions”. This hypothesis is examined with reference to the educational and
curatorial practice of Nigerian art lecturers working within Nigeria, and Nigerian
curators working both within and without of Nigeria.
The overall analysis is divided into three principal areas of investigation:
“Education and Curation in Nigeria”, which addresses the question of what actually
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qualifies someone as a curator of contemporary African art works in Nigeria. The
section refers to the personal views of Nigerian curators, the development of tertiary
course curriculum [and their content] in the visual arts and art history since their
inception, and concludes with a discussion of the relevance of current course content
to the area of curation and exhibition; “Experience and Curation in Nigeria”, then
looks at the experience of Nigerian curators, and the demands of the national
exhibition, with specific reference to the areas of location, identity, and aesthetic
values. Changes in exhibitionary practice is also addressed with particular attention
paid to the funding of projects, and the effect of both local and international patronage
on the art exhibition in Nigeria; the third area, “Nigerian Curators in the West”,
examines the curatorial practice of expatriate Nigerian curators, again with reference
to the areas of location, identity, and aesthetic values. The views of both national and
international curators are then given in reference to the role of African curators in the
diaspora and the exhibition of contemporary African art.
Findings indicated that although there exists a considerable exhibition culture in
Nigeria today, that professionality in the field is lacking. Although those interviewed
for the study were considerably active in the field, and exhibited a knowledge of
contemporary Nigerian art, the education and experience of these artist-curators was
inhibited by the limitations of current post graduate education in curation or related
fields of study, such as cultural representation, and also inadequate facilities and
funding for the actualization of professional exhibitions. Finally, recommendations
centred on the provision of post-graduate courses in curation and related fields of
study, most appropriately as a masters degree programme, and further emphasised the
obligation of the Federal Government of Nigeria to encourage a greater professionality
in exhibition through the provision of repositories of art suitable for both national and
international exhibitions.
Description
DEPARTMENT OF FINE ARTS
FACULTY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
SEPTEMBER, 2004
Keywords
NIGERIAN,, CURATORSHIP, EXHIBITION OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN, ART WORKS