AMIAF to spotlight visual art landscape

…As bigger space, scope, unique works mark 2025 edition

Riding on the success of three editions, Artmiabo International Art Festival (AMIAF), is set to surpass past records in scope, participation, works on display, size of venue and activities.

This year’s edition, which is being curated by Yusuf Durodola, a multidisciplinary artist, holds on the theme, ‘Artconomy: Redefining the Global Art Experience’, from April 29-May 1, 2005, at Admiralty Conference Center, Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island Lagos.

The new venue, according to the organisers, reflects the growth in participation and scope of the festival, while still appreciating Ebonylife, its host for the past editions, for the sustained partnership.

Speaking at a media preview of the upcoming festival, the organisers explained that, though AMIAF is getting bigger every year, it is still focused on helping unknown artists to become known, improve their craft, make better sales, and empower them to impact others.

According to Miabo Enyadike, founder/CEO, AMIAF, who doubles as an artist, this year’s edition is tagged ‘Artconomy’ to highlight the potential and relevance of visual art in the economy and society at large.

While all genres of the arts, including; music, fashion, visual art itself, among others are all creating huge impact in the economy, both locally and globally, she noted that visual art can do more, if given the needed push.

“For me, I felt that Fine Art might be the key to all these other successes in the other arts, but it is under-represented; it does not have that same push,” she decried.

Read also: Okundaye, Austen-Peters, Durodola for AMIAF’s ‘Artconomy’ Awards

Explaining the rationale for the festival, she noted that AMIAF targeted at harnessing everything that gives Nigerian unknown artists the opportunity to be out there.

Enyadike also offered details of the activities of the festival; including; five workshops, with AI workshop for the artists; a mini workshop by Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Harmattan Workshop; ceramics session by a Chinese professor, Children Section, among others.

According to her, the five hands-on workshops are never-seen-before, and will be curated by Yusuf Durodola and his team, to give participants something magical and change their thinking about art.

For the children, about 10-15 of them will be exhibiting great works, amid stipends to encourage them to buy the materials they need to create their art.

On a possible new offering at this year’s show, she said, “We are introducing the art and craft market to enable us to integrate all kinds of art because there are some people who are not painting, not sculpting, but are working with beads, fabric and others to create art”.

Also, in this year’s edition the organisers have chosen the Department of Fine and Applied Art, School of Vocational Education, Federal College of Education, Akoka, Lagos.

“About 15 of their students will show up in the AMIAF slot, they will also be part of the festival in terms of ushering and building stands to earn some money. We will also make sure that they make some sales,” Enyadike assured.

Also speaking at the media preview, which was held at the Ebonylife, Victoria Island, Lagos, Durodola, a Lagos-based multidisciplinary artist and curator of the festival for three years, was excited that the festival has grown in value, aesthetics and how people see art.

This year’s edition, which is themed ‘Artconomy’, according to him, is all about making people see the core value of art and how art can be used as a strong tool to change the narrative.

“I am particularly interested in AMIAF because it is a human-centred project. It is all about the materials, because when you centre on the people, they will produce the material. The festival also elevates the spirit of people around you and gives voice to the voiceless artists,” the curator said.

“We give opportunities to people that least expect to be on this platform and they excel afterwards. That is our joy”.

He encouraged the public to visit the festival, which is holding at a venue that is three times the size of the former one, amid rich content, exciting activities, honing of skills and empowerment.

As expected, Festus Adeyemi, a PhD holder and Dean of Vocational Education, Federal College of Education Technical, Akoka Lagos, was excited that his school was chosen for the AMIAF slot this year, amid the skill honing and empowerment opportunities for the participating students.

“AMIAF has been very fantastic in giving voice to the voiceless and in the process, creating more awareness for art,” Adeyemi said.

“I also commend the collaboration between the town and the gown. It is a very good marriage that will birth good talents, develop skills”.

However, the dean, who is also an artist, is eager to see his works on display at the festival. He urged people to see it because they were created from the result of his research on waste (down cycled and up cycled).

For Agu Uchechukwu, head of operations, AMIAF, the festival has lasted this long due to the continued support from partners, especially Multichoice Nigeria and JCDecaux, which are its legacy sponsors, since its first edition, as well as Ebonylife.