Luxury, regardless of its expression, is underpinned by one key element – craftsmanship. The Balvenie, a luxurious range of whisky from the stable of William Grant and Sons distillery, Scotland, is crafted by Malt Master, David C Stewart.
To bring this concept to life, The Balvenie collaborated with three incredibly talented artists and hosted guests to an opulent evening of fine dining, classical entertainment, live music, art exhibition, and of course a taste of Balvenie.
The event was held at the prestigious Vanilla Restaurant, one of Abuja’s leading dining establishments.
Compered by Actor, Artist, and choreographer, Ibrahim Suleiman, guests were introduced to the brand collaborators who in turn shared their Makers stories.
The trinity of makers are Babalola Oluwafemi, who doubles as an artist, curator, designer, and a major promoter of African arts; Jacqueline Suowari, a visual artist using the Ballpoint pen primarily as a means of expression and Dotun Popoola, a synergetic metal sculptor who has carved a niche for himself with his hyper-realistic monumental metal sculptures.
Speaking on his Balvenie maker’s story, Babalola Oluwafemi said: “I like to tap right into that originality that so many of my contemporaries have, in the quest for modernisation, abandoned. A lot of my art has been inspired by stories of old, sculptures of old times, traditional arts and fashion, and most of all, the will to keep things as connected to the beginning and the centre of all things, as possible.’
Oluwafemi, the CEO of the Amazing studios further stated that in a world where little or no attachments to one’s roots and foundation are prevalent, originality becomes rare, almost endangered, all in the squalor of everyday living. Referencing the craftsmanship in The Balvenie brand, he explained that one could see how easily originality and tradition have been preserved, and where necessary, protected over decades with feats as simple as staying true to the idea of growing its barley.
Also, Dotun Popoola, a synergetic metal sculptor, who has carved a niche for himself with his monumental metal sculptures said: “I take my time to select different scraps and weld them together, each piece is a product of tenacity, perseverance, and long-suffering but the end product gives a fulfilling breath.”
Additionally, Popoola explained that his artistic practice is based on a personal philosophy that art should be explored as an agent of change, and as a socio-cultural review. “My goal is to create a luxury brand out of discarded materials and wastes that make our environments unsightly and threaten the ecosystem,” he revealed.
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