Prof. Bruce Onobrakpeya, who was honoured by the Smithsonian National Museum of African Arts in Washington DC, penultimate Friday, has been described as a living treasure of Nigeria.
President Goodluck Jonathan said this in a congratulatory message to the artist.
The world famous 82-year-old sculptor, painter and print-maker, one of Nigeria’s best, was named the Artist Honouree on the occasion of the museum’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
According to the statement signed by Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity), Reuben Abati, and made available to TheNiche, Jonathan said Onobrakpeya’s outstanding portfolio of works over several decades made him very worthy of the recognition by one of the most distinguished art institutions in the world.
“You are indeed a Living Treasure of Nigeria. From your first, decisive intervention as a member of the Zaria Art Society when you and your colleagues fused colonial art practice with traditional art forms and philosophy, you have been the consummate artist,” the statement read in part.
“Indeed, there is hardly any individual more deserving of recognition at the Smithsonian’s celebration of 50 years of African art and culture. You have been a catalyst as well as a mentor and inspiration to generations of artists.”
The president noted in the letter that the Washington programme, at which he was honoured included an event tagged, ‘Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue’, was apt for Onobrakpeya to be at the forefront of dialogue between artistic traditions in Nigeria and around the world.
“Closer to home, your works in the State House Art Collection have given me many moments of meaningful reflection, as I am sure they have done for many visitors to the Presidential Villa.”
Onobrakpeya had received the UNESCO Living Human Treasure Award in 2006.
Declaring that the celebrated artist’s works have been “a high point of beauty and dignity” in the lives of Nigerians, the president prayed that the professor will continue to ennoble the country’s cultural space for many more years.
Meanwhile, the artist, who was in Washington DC to accept the award, said during his acceptance speech that the honour is a great recognition and a crown for a life-long effort in his creative endeavours.
Addressing the advisory board of the National Museum of African Art and the museum director, Dr. Johnnetta Cole; special guests, Drs. Camille and Bill Cosby; eminent ladies and gentleman present, Onobrakpeya said he was happy and very grateful for the honour.
“The honour is also recognition of the hard work of different people and groups who are dedicated to the building of artistic personalities and relevance, for the visual art, particularly the old and modern African art,” Onobrakpeya said.
He added that he was accepting the award on behalf of his family for whom his restless work as an artist has denied his time and funds.
“I also hold it for my friends, fellow artists, individuals and corporate sponsors, as well as cultural engineers including the press. It is an affirmation that their labour continues to yield positive results,” he said.
Onobrakpeya congratulated the museum for her golden jubilee and prayed that she would continue to grow in the development of the visual art from Africa and the Diaspora to the benefit of the entire world.
Born August 30, 1932 in Agbarha-Otor, Delta State, Onobrakpeya has many awards to his name including at the 44th Venice Biennale, 2006 Human Living Treasure Award by UNESCO and 2010 National Creativity award by Federal Government of Nigeria.
He founded the Harmattan Workshop Series in 1998, which organises biannual art workshops that had been very successful.
The Harmattan Workshop, as an informal educational set-up, is a retreat where artists meet, think, work, experiment and share ideas. They come with the view to develop and sustain their creative endeavours towards the development of the arts, particularly the visual arts. It takes place at the Niger Delta Arts and Cultural Centre, Agbarha-Otor.