LIGHT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF EXHIBITION IN THE VISUAL ARTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Exhibition either commercially oriented or otherwise, is a household event in Nigeria. Specifically, an art exhibition is an artist’s definite medium of meeting art collectors, lovers of art works and general public. Exhibition, when staged, occurs in either an open space where sunlight provides the illumination or in an enclosure where incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes are used, which in most cases are not properly lighted or faced with erratic electricity power supply. The luminosity of light plays a vital role in exhibition venue and in promoting the affection of the medium used for exhibition. This paper examines the place of exhibition in the growth of Nigerian art tradition and discusses light as an important environmental condition with its positive and negative effects on art works presented in different colours within and outside the exhibition venue. Light is of great importance in the process of executing an art work and exhibition venue. However, overexposure to ultra-violet and visible rays before, during and after exhibition can have negative impact on the art works. Recommendations were made among which are proper sensitization of artists, art lovers and collectors on the need to prevent ultraviolent and visible rays of high frequencies and their effects on coloured art works and other materials used. It also suggested that physics of light waves should be included in the curriculum of Fine and Applied Art study of both tertiary and secondary school education in Nigeria.