Make We Do........Do Wetin?

The Yusuf Grillo auditorium, School of Art and Printing was filled with students, artists and curiosity struck individuals when I arrived at the venue of the performance art conference yesterday. Being a performance artist myself, the topics of discussion and seemingly ‘crazy’ performances about to be showcased were not strange to me.

 

Odun Orimolade (painter/lecturer/performance artist), was the moderator. Also present were Jelili Atiku, Artistic Director for AfiriPerforma, Marie Gavois (Sweden),Michel Klofkorn (Germany), Olabisi Silva (Centre for Contemporary Arts, Lagos) and a handful of art lecturers.

Paper presentations were as follows:

1. Image of Social Political Realities in Performance  by  Oladayo Akanbi (School of Art and Printing, Yaba College of Tecnology)
2. The Ancestors of performance art by Jelili Atiku
3. Performance: Musicality, Materiality and Body by Marie Gavois
4. The Performance Actions by Michel Klofkorn 

Jelili Atiku

Odun Orimolade

Marie Gavois

A cross section of the audience at the conference

Some of the questions asked by the audience during the questions and answers session are as follows; 

• When is it okay to discontinue a dangerous performance?  
• Answer: Stop, when it is obvious that it is risky and dangerous to your health and that of your audience. Stop, if it seems that you can lose your life if you continue with the performance. Use your common sense.

• What kind of body paint can be used? 
• Answer: Powder pigment is body friendly. Use non toxic body paints.

•  Where can one get this kind of body paint? 
• Answer: You can purchase non toxic body paints at AB Artworld.(You may contact me with respect to purchasing art materials,books and paintings. We can supply to your school/home. You may also use our gallery space for your workshops and exhibitions).

•  Is nudity a must in performance art? 
• Answer: It depends on the environment you find yourself in and if it will express your art in the best form. (Go try am for boko area, na bomb be dati o! Besides, dat kain tinz nor dey my own dictionary. Iya laya art!)

• How Lucrative is performance art? 
• Answer: It is lucrative if you know how to tap into available sources of fund within and outside Nigeria in form of grants, art residencies, performance tickets, etc.(Na so e easy? You beta pocket one job for corner make hunger nor finish you. A job/career preferably in the arts).

• Can performance art be used to advertise products for companies and businesses so as to make money from this form of art? 
• Answer: Performance art is not for the purpose of advertisement. It is in no way connected to advertisement. Expressing social, cultural and political views artistically and for awareness purposes for possible changes, should be the main focus.(The last answer does not apply to me o! I can artistically advertise a product or service where my bread is adequately buttered. Common sense naa ni).

PERFORMANCES 

Marcellina Oseghale performing AND THE PEARL WILL FLY IN THE SKY

Olanrewaju Tejuosho performing LABUWE

Adekunle Rafiu in KETU/OJOTA

ANYAWUN by Clement Agholor

BECAUSE OF TOLERANCE AND MULTIPLICITY, BEING A NEW BORN AND VERY FRAGILE as performed by Marie Gavois

Today's performances took place at Ojuwoye market, Mushin. Tomorrow, the grand finale , will take place in Ejigbo. The father of performance arts in Nigera will be performing there.


Check out the short video clips of these art performances tomorrow......and don't forget to subscribe to my blog for more intriguing music and art stories and perceptions.