Nigeria to feature at world's most prestigious contemporary art exhibition

Venice Biennale, the world’s most prestigious contemporary visual art exhibition, in its 57th-year edition, titled VIVA ARTE VIVA, welcomes a new guest in 2017, Nigeria.

A press conference was organised on Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at Moorhouse house Ikoyi to officially announce Nigeria's participation in the 57th edition.

The conference kicked off with a welcome address from the project manager, Wunika Mukan after which the official announcement of the country's participation was done by a member of the steering committee, Ade Adekola.

His excellency, Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki who was represented by Femi Lijadu further explained that the government has an intention to build a museum of international standards in Benin. He said this physical infrastructure will be able to bring back the intangible infrastructure and our cultural heritage.

Indigenes and foreigners will be able to visit, thereby positioning Edo state as an art and cultural pioneer in Nigeria. It is a vibrant opportunity for culture and artistic identity to through reverberate throughout the world.

Ike Chioke, a steering committee member said "To be accepted in the project, we needed an official representative of the government. To that effect, the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki accepted to be made the commissioner of the project".

He described the impact of private sector funding on the project and also added that they have been supportive so far.

Exhibiting visual artists, Peju Alatise and Victor Ehikhamenor were chosen based on a number of criteria which included their ability to deliver a worthy of exhibition art piece, their accomplishments and reputation- locally and internationally as well as a good CV of the artist.