Art meets tech at Impart Artists Fair

THREE hundred African artists exhibiting over 1000 recent artworks will feature in the maiden Impart Artists Fair being organised by Lasmara, an independent art consultancy specialising in contemporary African art.

The fair with ‘Art Meets Tech’ as its theme, will hold from October 25 to 27 at Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos, with more than 6000 international and local art enthusiasts participating.

The fair, according to organisers who addressed a news conference last Thursday, is to “increase awareness of African Arts and Culture sector, as well as to improve African Art Recognition on a global pedestal.”

Speaking at the interaction, the founder and director of Lasmara, Mrs Hana Omilani, explained that the selected works were not chosen on sentiments but were critically appraised.

She said, “the vetting process was very thorough by the selection committee, made up of 11 international art professionals and collectors,” and that the event would not just be an exhibition.

She said there would be a Digital Art showcase (using groundbreaking Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Technologies), workshops with artists and professionals, exclusive collectors’ events, etc.

Ondo: Flood sacks Akeredolu’s mother’s community

Omilani added that with the support of a law firm, Templars, the US Consulate, Lagos, 9mobile, Mirinda Apple, AXA Mansard and Iron Capital, the fair would offer artists a platform to exhibit themselves via the use of interactive and immersive technology.

For her, “This is where technology plays a vital factor and we believe that through technology we can reach a larger audience – the audience that is needed to create volume in the transaction of African Art.

“What’s important to understand is that the fair is a way to officially launch Impart the platform. Impart is a new initiative – a platform to promote African artists and the Impart Artists Fair – is just one of the series of initiatives. Impart Artist Fair uses technology to promote art, this is why the maiden edition of Impart is themed ‘Art Meets Tech.’”

She further disclosed that there are “ongoing plans to empower artists through this platform, as we are actively involved in social, non-profit activities, such as community building, portfolio management, talks, artists’ workshops, residency programmes and special workshops for women, to help increase the representation of female artists in the field.”

Omilani, who enjoined art enthusiasts to visit the fair because it would be a “very exciting and stimulating experience,” also shared more about the activities of Lasmara and how artists can benefit.

Apart from specialising in contemporary African art, the independent art consultancy also offers a wide range of specialist art services, from commissioning artists and sourcing works to creating strategies for investment and exhibition.

Lasmara, she further noted, also sees every client, like every piece of art, as unique. So, it collaborates very closely with clients to understand their individual aesthetic and requirements, and to provide personally tailored solutions.The consultancy boasts the experience and insight to take a practical and artistic approach to every project, to provide a seamless bespoke service that delights our clients.

Omilani added that Lasmara’s database of artists is “constantly expanding, both well-established and up-and-coming, but always exciting and original. Our speciality is African but our interests are global, and we work with clients, galleries and art houses all over the world. In addition to sourcing and acquiring artworks, we can also assist with the liquidation of art collections, resale of artworks, art handling, administration of loans and consignments, shipping and storage, and much more. We look forward to working with an expanding array of Nigerian and international clients, to meet their requirements while increasing awareness of African art and African artists across the globe.”