Art 635 by Guaranty Trust Bank is the standard measure for African artists to stake their claim and stamp their authority on the art market place. The virtual platform has become the home for artists with reality check. The museum welcomes everyone and anyone on free space, so far you are the real deal.

Words by Ireho Aito

Olu Amoda is a Nigerian legendary sculptor of international repute. He is a game changer for his generation with mass appeal couple with innovation for success. The world class artist is a teacher with so many years’ experience in the art. Everything about him and around him counts. Olu Amoda was trying to encourage a young student about perseverance and the turning point to success. The young lad, an undergraduate of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos was nodding his head in affirmative to the wise counseling of the elder statesman in visual art. As the young chap disappears, he eyes focused on the football field and saw Kunle Adeyemi another visual artist, a specialist in printmaking technique who is now the acting head honcho in one of the departments walking towards him with his hulk-like frame. Olu Amoda quickly points out; ‘the world is changing, imagine when I wanted to have my first solo debut as a visual artist, I had to be brave to face the challenge. It took me years before I could summon the courage to go to National Museum at Onikan. Time is a great voyager and that’s what people say. Today, some of my fresh graduates a year ago have just sent an invitation to my office that I am a guest of honor at a group show at the same museum at Onikan.’ Time indeed is a great healer.

It has been a fruitful moment for African artists in multimedia disciplines of the art business and appreciation. Who would have ever thought a bank can stake a claim in the prosperous but remain undiscovered art and culture atmosphere of the African continent? Guaranty Trust Bank has made the difference. The flourishing bank with urban and modern technology verve has proved to people that content is oil. Your image recreates from the content in your hand. Beyond banking, when you gather treasures you save them in the banks. When you need treasures you visit the bank. Guaranty Trust Bank dutiful proved to a perfect plan for humans to live beyond existing. Art 635 has come to stay. The platform berthed in 2016 as an online art gallery for Africa and African artists, providing the public with financial information and market indices of the artists, auteurs and connoisseurs. Art 635 is a free digital space to explore and specifically guaranteed.

Time is a great voyager and that’s what they say. Decades ago, artists were going through the analogue appreciation of their works and markets. They would move their collections and pieces from the studio to the gallery owners and intermittent exhibitions to attract the collectors. It was indeed cumbersome to be appreciated. Some fell by the way side. Others joined other professions to eke their living, since survival has become a rat race. A lot continue to knock collectors’ doors to be patronised. One of Africa’s icons Bisi Fakeye now deceased described his career moments some time ago; “When I left my brother, the renowned Lamidi Fakeye, I was living at Mabo street in Surulere on the mainland of Lagos. I wanted to be established and I decided to leave my already established brother and go on a solo mission. In fact, to my chagrin, he said I was too forward but I left and faced the vagaries of art and art business in my own way. It became part of my daily manual to pack my art works and pieces into a bag and hawk to the island of Lagos, since I knew how expatriates were fond of my brother’s works. I would hawk around the island and fortunately I found the favour of a German who actually took interest in my works and led me to the German Cultural Center known as Goethe Institut. And my life changed forever. “

Culture and partnering agencies have indeed played their parts to celebrate African artists and their creative spirits through countless exhibitions and exchange programmes. But Guaranty Trust Bank has come with digital grace that’s virtual. The blessings of the digital space are enormous. Art 635 has a Faculty led by Nigerian born photographer Uche Okpa Iroha. The Seydou Keita multiple award winning photographer with other members of the faculty run the digital platform. Dry bones have started rising again. Artists with profound works are free to mix with expected buyers and acquire much quality exposure from the virtual space. It is a beautiful space for market, networking, and exhibiting space.
Space and Exhibition

The Space being provided by the platform will always be there. Gone the days when artists and art businessmen curry the favor of a museum or gallery to exhibit their works and collections. The drain on energy looking for concrete structures in the name of a gallery is no more as the Art 635 provides a virtual gallery and museum for the artists of various media. Artists today now have free access to space to keep their works and ideas. Presently, news abounds of art and idea theft by artists. In fact, two deceased artists’ works [names withheld] have been reported plagiarized by modern artists. Art 635 gives content owners the face and values for their works are patently theirs. Also, the time frame factor that is synonymous to exhibitions has been erased completely from the Arthouse.

Investment and Patronage
There is art and there is art business. Art 635 gives a business for free and the gainers are the artists. Artists and content owners have found themselves at the receiving end of being shortchange in commercial value and this ricochet along the family and investment lines. But the virtual platform has elevated the commercial power of African artists to also reap the dividends of their labour. The virtual platform has made the art business a bankable business and with complete guaranteed investment.

Networking and Alliance
Art 635 has bridged the gap among African artists removing the barrier code of engagements. Just like in contemporary music in Africa, The platform opens doors for collaborations and genuine networking just as in contemporary African music industry; collaborations build investment, career friendship and prosperity.

Periodic Seminars and Workshops
Guaranty Trust Bank has done greatly by investing in a faculty to supervise and run the platform for quality and professional outlook. Periodic workshops and seminars abound in Art 635 where artists and art connoisseurs can have mix zones to hone their skills and improve their knowledge of art business.

Words/Ireho Aito

Images/GTB Gallery