Corona holds First students’ art, food exhibition

You would hardly think a three or four-year-old capable of making “impressive” or “serious” artworks. However, with about 170 students between the ages of three and 16 from Corona Group of Schools, Lagos, showcasing their artworks in the school’s maiden edition of art, food and drink fair, held recently in the school’s premises on Victoria Island, your perception of these little ones, with regards to art would change.

The works showcased by students from all of the school’s five branches in Gbagada, Apapa, Ikoyi, Agbara and Victoria Island, ranged from framed paintings, mixed media mosaics and sculptures, to tie dye, beaded jewelry and paper crafts, such as cups and bags, among others.

All the artworks at the fair, which was tagged Signature Of Colours, depicted the children’s imaginations about the world, represented in visuals of relatable, as well as abstract concepts. They were sold to delighted parents and guests between N4, 500 and N45, 000.

A parent, Dakore Akande, said the exhibition was a testament of the creative prowess of the little children. For the veteran Nollywood actress, whose daughter also displayed an artwork, the exhibition would be an inspiration for the children to continue to explore their artistic talents.

Another parent, Daniele Akpan, said the exhibition was an eye-opener into her daughters’ capability to develop within the art sphere.

Throughout the event, the children were visibly excited, as their parents and other guests bought their artworks. One of the pupils, Chinemerem Ohaegbulam, said the fair had motivated her towards doing more artwork.

The programme also featured a display of cultural dishes, at the “village kitchen” section, where such tribal delicacies as ekpang nkukwo, abacha and white melon soup, Ofada rice, moin moin and snail kebabs, among others, were on sale by some of the pupils.

The director of Education at the school’s Victoria Island branch, Amelia Dafeta, said: “The fair was aimed at using art to enhance academic performance. The programme was also to increase the children’s awareness of their cultures.