Amid
tributes to the late Austrian culture icon, Susan Wenger, some art and
culture promoters recently unveiled an initiative to develop the Osun
Osogbo Grove.
Coming on
the platform of the Save Our Art! Save Our Heritage! Campaign Committee,
the group stated that there was the need to save the forest and
preserve the art works it harboured.
The high point of the initiative is the planned construction of a Brazilian-style four-storied residence in the grove.
According to the collectives’ Chairman, Olufemi Akinsaya, the project is a great investment in the future.
At a
programme and exhibition held in honour of Wenger, recently held at
Wheatbaker Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos, he said, “We, the present generation of
Nigerians, have a duty to preserve the spectacular artistic works in the
grove and hand them over in perfect form, to coming generations.
“These
works must be used to rally and inspire generations of Nigerians, to
remind us that we are a people with worthy cultural and historical
achievements, from which we can draw a sense of identity and pride; and
to spur us to commit, each and all, to focus on work and preoccupations
that add to society and will long remain after we too have departed from
this plane.
“All
mortals will sooner perish, and may sooner be forgotten. Great works of
art help to perpetuate the extraordinary achievements of people and
times past, and can inspire the living and future generations to aim
higher; feel pride in their past and history; make them determined to
make their own lives and times count too.”
The
financial expert, who has for many years been an art promoter, is
working with Karin Troy, Nella Hengstler and the couple Robin and Hugh
Campbell as other members of the group.
While the
Save our Art, however, secured funding from some organisations, the
project is said to have been inspired by the Susanne Wenger Adunni
Olorisha Trust, with John Adeyemi Adeleke (the chair), Sangodare Ajala,
and Gusti Merzeder-Taylor Robin and Hugh Campbell and Adedoyin Faniyi as
members/ volunteers.
0 comments:
Post a Comment