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| Sculptor Chidi Okoye |
An international Artist, Dr. Chidi Okoye, has called on the
government and people of Nigeria to support the Arts industry so that
the potentials could be fully harnessed for national development.
Okoye made the call during the exhibition of some of his works in Awka.
The former lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko,
Anambra State, said arts were the best way the cultural identity of a
people could be preserved and transmitted to the next generation.
The sculptor who just returned from his base in Canada said
Nigerians must appreciate and support works of arts as it any nation
that incorporated their culture in development were more sustainable.
He urged governments to promoted culture through arts so
that the tourism sector could contribute more to the nation’s Gross
Domestic Product.
He said culture and tradition in addition to revenue
generation were also critical to technological advancement of a nation,
urging government at all levels to take interest in the development of
the sector.
Okoye said there was low appreciation for art works because
people did not place value on them, arguing that art works were not
expensive as advanced in some quarters.
'The most important thing that is so expensive in arts is
appreciation, that man who said he doesn’t have money to buy the work of
arts first of all should have money to buy appreciation, he should have
an appreciation first for the art before you start looking for the
art.
'Because if you start looking for art with appreciation,
you will find the smallest even art and buy them that and buy that and
start with that, gradually you see that person collecting bigger arts,
so I wouldn’t say art is that expensive, so it is a priority,
appreciation has been misplaced, it will never be too expensive when you
know the value of what you are buying,' he said.
The exhibition featured various painting, carvings and bricks depicting ancient tradition and cultural symbols.
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