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Creators in Akure have attributed the neglect of arts by the citizens to a lack of cultural value. They state that many people have distanced themselves from artistic and literary values.
An artist, Festus Lamidi, who owns Fayemma Apparel, affirms that his art museum is based on real galleries and ready for visitors. He believes that arts make a location attractive and are a valuable commodity for improving a city’s image.
“Art museums and galleries are meant for art exhibitions and should be recognised and supported as educational and cultural resources. They add value to any state that aims to appear attractive,” he said.
“The foundation of our artwork is culture. Most of our art pieces celebrate various cultures or past heroes and their works. However, people don’t seem to fully appreciate our efforts here. Although some visitors praise the artworks and promise to purchase them, only a few actually go through with it.”
Festus Lamidi
Samson Babaleye
Lamidi laments the decline of artistic value in society and institutions. He points out that the once-thriving literary tradition and artistic value that gave Ondo State national and international recognition have faded away, leading to a distancing from the arts.
“There’s a dearth of artistic value in the society and institutions. In the past, we had many personalities who appreciated art, but now there are only a few,” he expressed with concern.
He also calls for the government’s attention to renovate and maintain the state’s cultural centre for youth training. “The government should also focus on the cultural centre, providing repairs and maintenance. We need to promote our culture. We should establish training centres for our youths, offering orientation and engaging them in artistic work, such as sculpturing, woodwork, brass smiting, and more.”
Lamidi mentioned that he has already trained many youths, and he remains open to interested individuals. “As you can see, we have various art pieces, and I have trained many youths in these skills. Unfortunately, lately, only a few show up for further training, as they believe there is little value in it within our society. Nevertheless, we remain open to those who are interested.”
Samson Babaleye, the owner of Dido Art Gallery, also feels that the state is not giving its best in terms of arts. “The neglect of arts is deeply saddening. Art exhibitions are not as frequent, and we can only have them if there are willing sponsors. Ondo State has yet to fully embrace artistic work.”
He emphasises that the primary purpose of an art gallery is to nurture visual arts, not solely for financial gain. “The aim of our gallery is to promote our visual arts, showcasing them to the public, media, and cultural institutions. We are not solely focused on becoming wealthy.”
Babaleye observes that there are enough artistic creations that people have yet to show interest in. “We have numerous art pieces created for the people, but only a few show interest. Sometimes, exploring your target audience can be challenging, and without proper planning, sales may be slow for months.”
He further emphasises that art galleries should strive for perfection in their works. “The goal is to create a perfect artistic work. I use social media to bring my work into the limelight. Although people have neglected arts, we will continue doing our best to keep it alive.”
The artist stresses the importance of having at least one art piece in one’s home. “Culture is our way of life and depicts who we are,” Babaleye says. “The art you have in your home reflects your interests and identity. Having one art piece or another in your house is not a bad idea.”
While displaying some of his art pieces, he explains that every artistic drawing or sculpture has a story behind it.