Tuesday 7 April 2009

Carried Away

I'm not sure art auctions and champagne are a good mix. Never mind, it was fun and I ended up in with a rather good deal, me thinks. Though where to put it is quite a different question.

Ben Osaghae
Repeat Offenders
2005
Oil on Canvas
124.5 x 101.6 (49 x 40 in.)


Sunday 5 April 2009

Art update

The gut has a lot to do with why I'm in Africa. Firstly, the music is guttoral; it speaks to the heart. At the same time I have had this brooding gut feeling that Africa is the place for me for a decade or longer. A strong affinity with everything African is the result - its people, its ways and its art.

The first couple of weeks here rejuvinated this feeling. I managed to squeeze in a visit to the infamous (new) Shrine to see Femi Kuti. It was just an open rehersal, but even so - jumpin'! Also headed to the Jazzhole, a jazz and funk record shop. Just like London, but compare that to Hyderabad! In between the gym, work, french class routine (boosted by dinner parties and sailing) I picked up info on plays & open gigs, found an amazing coffee table book on Lagos (published by local Glendora), went to a few dinner parties and am off to an art auction tomorrow. The world has finally woken up to the excitement that the cultural scene has to offer, it seems. 

Needless to say that all this exciting stuff means I have yet to find a place to live or a car. But what a start to Lagos!