Celebrating Ingenuity Of Women Through Arts

An art exhibition to celebrate contributions of womenfolk to national development opens on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Featuring the works of artist extraordinaire and cultural ambassador, Mrs Chinze Ojobo, the show is underscoring the statement that “women are no longer confined to the homes of which many male chauvinists considered their natural habitat.” Indeed, the show derives its strength from the federal government policy of 35 per cent affirmative action to accommodate the women folk in governance as they are now holding important positions as Ministers, Directors General, Permanent Secretaries, Chief Executives of government corporations, blue chip companies across the country.

With the thematic engagement of Women in Development, the exhibition brings out the activities and involvement of women in development both as top government officials and high profile technocrats.

But in doing this, the women do not lose sight of the man as both the head of the family and husband, but also the prop for the womenfolk.

The purpose of the exhibition, according to Mrs Ojobo, “is to bring to the fore the activities of women from the back end to the fore front.” A consummate artist of international repute, she explains that women are now doing everything positive to shape society. “We are not just there but we make sure we are effective.”

The exhibition is part of the Vlisco Women’s month award. Vlisco Women Month celebrates the inspiring achievements of women in West and Central Africa.  This year’s theme of the celebration is ‘Live the Dream’ in honor of African Women who have the courage to turn their dreams into reality despite the challenges they face in their daily lives.

Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe, Publisher TW Magazine was winner of 2014 Vlisco women’s ambassador award and has been an inspiration to Mrs. Chinze Ojobo. According to her, this exhibition paints a vivid picture of women combining motherhood, family life, the office and influence on the day to day activities of not only governance but also industry.

She said gone are the days when women snared at each other.” But now support each other for a better society”. Mrs. Ojobo a well-travelled artist with degrees in Fine and Applied Arts from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and had exhibited in several cities including Accra, Paris, London, Washington DC, California, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey and Plovdiv among others specifically said that this exhibition will bring the story of women in development up to date.
The exhibition demonstrates Mrs. Ojobo’s personal experiences especially interwoven cultures in her painting with acrylic on jute, burlap to texture, and canvas paper to build up more textures with a combination of traditionally woven fabrics called kente or mud cloth.

Her art work goes beyond surrealism. Hers is art for life sake as she tells the story of women and men especially in a particular buildup of almost real life images of nine women decked in magnificent ornaments while the only man in their midst has an austere costume and displaying masculinity to protect the women.
Mrs. Ojobo explains further. “Take a cursory look of any successful woman, her husband is there for her as a friend, colleague and support.”

This particular artwork is believed to be a masterpiece but Mrs. Ojobo says that while it’s true that this appears to be a master-piece, it’s not her magnum opus. Her paintings are detailed. The artist whose husband, Mr. Tony Ojobo heads the Public Affairs Department at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) said her husband who is also a lover of arts, has been a pillar to her.

An award winning artist, Mrs. Ojobo was honored by the Ministry of Arts and Culture, Los Angeles California in 2003. She designed and built two cinema halls and a lounge for the National Film and Video Censors Board and built and furnished the first Telecommunications Museum in Nigeria at the NCC in 2006. She has had over 40 arts exhibitions including six in Hollywood, Bulgaria and London among others.