– Culture and heritage –
“Nigerian art collectors want a piece of their own culture and heritage and are prepared to invest in that,” added Bonhams’ representative in Lagos, Neil Coventry.
“What’s fascinating is that these pieces are being found all over the world. In some cases they are coming back to Nigeria where they are valued and appreciated the most.”
Coventry, whose living room walls at his house overlooking the Lagos lagoon are covered with major Nigerian works of art, cites the example of Enwonwu.
The painter and sculptor, who died in 1994, was once as famous a name in Nigeria as Britain, where he was notably the first black African artist commissioned to make a sculpture of Queen Elizabeth II in 1957.
But his name was forgotten and only rediscovered in recent years.
“He was an international artist and Africa’s premier modern artist,” said Coventry.
“Collectors who bought pieces by Enwonwu early in his career are now getting older and those who have inherited works may have no idea of the value of what they have.
“This rediscovery of Ben Enwonwu’s works is amazing.”
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