Archie-Abia: I Didn’t Study Arts But I’m a Gifted Visual Artist

Veteran artist and gallery owner, Archie-Abia Godwin, has auctioned several artworks. Years of being on the beat has not in any way affected his groove. He brims with passion and ideas after decades as a studio artist. Godwin reckons that government’s investment in the arts would go a long way in promoting local artists from going to Dubai in search of greener pastures  Adedayo Adejobi explores the life and arts of Godwin, who is also the proprietor of WinArc Gallery in Ikeja, Lagos

The Artist and the Holy Spirit
Godwin Archie-Abia is a graduate of History and International Relations from Lagos State University. He is a self-taught artist who has never attended any art class in the conventional sense, apart from hand work class in primary school and the several classes he has been to in his dreams. Aside appearing on recorded and live shows on TV, Archie-Abia has done many private and public exhibitions such as in Didi Museum and Nimbus Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Surprisingly, Archie-Abia sees the Holy Spirit as his inspiration. He has this to say about the industry:
“The industry is doing well in Nigeria but we need to do more in terms of content, materials and lots more. There is the need for in-depth knowledge of the work as well as the development of participatory interest in art. We need more avenues like exhibitions, auctions, workshops and seminars, where artworks are sold, exhibited and discussed. Nigerian art is moving forward, with some private individuals promoting and investing in the arts.”
As an artist and gallery owner, he combines the two divergent roles in the industry well, even though he acquiesces to the fact that it had not been easy. Before now, he used to have the gallery, WinArc Gallery, and studio under one roof. Currently, he has his studio away from the gallery. He makes it a point of duty to visit the gallery three times a week but spends more time in the studio because of the commissioned works he’s involved in. He separated the gallery from the studio so that the business of the gallery could be run more efficiently. WinArc Gallery has many artists, he only happens to be the coordinator. He strongly believes there is a room for everybody in the market. With focus and increased capacity, he believes a breakthrough in the market is guaranteed.
Although he started as a bone collage, time and lack of power pushed him to diversify. He says God gave him the vision to drive it in whatever medium he chooses. Now in the sculpture and mixed media, his work gets more patronage because the outdoor exhibition attracts more attention. He said his customers were the constant variant in his choice of work.

‘Artists are not and should not be Poor’
He said artists in Nigeria are perceived as poor because of people’s materialistic view.
“In art, like any other professions, you have rich and poor. Again, what qualifies one to be rich or poor? It is not the amount of cash you have. You may be materially poor but in terms of ideas you are very rich. I know many artists in this country that are comfortable, they buy what they want to buy at any given time. If you can afford what you want, you are a rich person. Should arts be driven by profit motive alone? No. But at the same time, don’t cheapen your works. There should be a common ground. There are commercial artists and their artworks are for sale. There are bills to be paid as an artist, so you must keep that in mind.”
Archie-Abia says that auction in Nigeria is a good development. This is for people driven by the love of arts and also profit. To him, it is like that all over the globe. Art by itself may not necessarily refer to the beauty or aesthetics of the work. He says some works regarded as questionable may be the best works for some people and they might pay any amount for them. The auctioneers are in the business to make money.

25 Years and Still Counting
When asked why he went into art, he pointed out that he was called to be an artist. An English and International Relations graduate from Lagos State University, he has been into arts for more than 25 years. His first set of collection for sale to corporate organisations was many years ago. An institution gave him a contract to furnish their office with artworks but he had been selling artworks before then. He has also sold works abroad. In 1996, an art collector bought works from him and took them to America for an exhibition. He exhibited at Didi Museum in 1996 and Archbishop Vining at Ikeja, Lagos. He also exhibited at THE NEWS Magazine Art Exhibition. Many of his works have been exhibited abroad through art collectors. His major collectors are numerous. They include individuals like Bart de Bruyne who is based in Germany, Felix Bonati, Luckson Orunma and institutions like Nigerian Ports Authority, Cadbury, Dangote, Covenant University; just to mention a few. Archie-Abia recycles works, bone collapse and does sculpting. He uses metal fibre, glass, colours. He loves to play with so many materials. He’s inspired by the spirit
He recalled the challenges he faced when he started. The enthusiastic attitude towards art now was glazed over by apathy then. He explains:
“When we started, people did not appreciate arts but now things have changed. Corporate people and private people are taking arts in a serious form. The government should create an enabling environment for artists. The government must diversify in her investment. In America, through their films, their government earns something. Even in India with Bollywood. The government should provide an enabling environment for the artist; they should encourage and cooperate with organisations to promote art exhibitions. The federal government should give tax relief to organisations that promote arts. Our roundabouts should be adorned with artworks.”

‘Tax Relief for Organisations can Promote the Arts’
He believes tax relief to those organisations who promote art will encourage other organisations to promote art pieces that are done in other countries. This will stimulate the economy. To him, one artist is like an industry.  On piracy, Archie-Abia said.
“It is not common. The artist can draw his inspiration from other artists but the work cannot be the same. A visual artist needs to be original. He has masters like Bruce Onobrakpeya, Aina Onabolu and the others to thank for impacting him. Nigerian art has come to stay. Some artists go to Dubai still. There is an Art House that auctions Visual Art here.”
When asked about his view with regards how auctioning of visual art works of young artist can help develop the art, he responds:
“Yes, those auctioning art in this country should look beyond the masters and auction works of young artists that are very talented. For you to grow the economy in the art world, the older artists should be there, the young artists should also be there. The new government should draft in a programme to exhibit art works in all our embassies across the world. They can sell artists through that which can attract interested buyers around the world.”
The gifted artist said football has made a lot of money for a country like Brazil because of her talented footballers. To him, state governments should also have art galleries across the world.
“I appeal to the government anyone they want to choose for Minister for Culture, should be a professional who will be earnest all these things I am saying. Our embassies should be able to organise exhibitions and draw artists from every geo-political zone. The National Gallery did it in the past but now I don’t know what is going on.”
Could the artiste be indicting the National Gallery, with a subtle condemnation that the arm is no longer serving its purpose anymore? He is quick to respond.
“I am not saying that because I don’t know their programme. I won’t sit down here to criticise what I don’t know. But 15 years ago, National Gallery of Nigeria used to take works of artists out Nigeria for exhibition. We should be able to have National Galleries in all the 36 states so that we can draw young artists from the grassroots. We should think art because art is everything.”

‘My Passion Has Given Rise to Action’
Speaking of  the thrust of the newly invented technique, one he claims no Nigerian artistes knows about, Archie-Abia says his thrust is the passion that has given rise to action to expand a new frontier in visual arts. He says this, more importantly, should be seen as something to occupy and provide a forum, platform for dialogue and contemplation and evangelism mix-media and metal fabricaton.
“I see my technique as something to occupy and provide a forum, platform for dialogue and like what I have been doing with others previous media-bone collage, mix-media and metal fabrication.  This new medium has been very interesting and challenging.  Having practised arts for more than 26 years, I have gained enough knowledge to think and create a medium that will stand the test of time.  My new style I call it graven painting. The material has to be glued to either board or canvas panel to create a relief format. First I sketched, provide the materials, engrave the materials before I glue to either board or canvas panel to create a super relief effect. Then I prime the materials on the panel and allow to dry before I start applying colours to it at the end of the day I am out with a super and unique work.”
He said this medium was unique because of the richness of the materials and the colour effects of impasto rendition.
“I can achieve any concept with the medium but it is very interesting and challenging.  One has to put his head down to create a work that is of internationally accepted standard.”

‘Let’s Have an Arts Investment Fund’
Giving his voice to issues surrounding government seeming lack of direction in a dwindling economy, Godwin had, in the past advocated for the diversification of the nation’s economy.
“No serious economy will want to undermine the importance of creative industries, in which visual art plays a vital role. In developing economy like Nigeria, where total dependencies on a mono-product has exposed the country’s economic strength to instability, all hands must be on deck to evolve a supporting and alternative economic platform for the country to lean on for survival. The Nigeria government from inception has not taken seriously development of arts sector as vital platform for the re-engineering of the national economy. My appeal to the government, banks and investment institutions is to invest in arts sector. I hereby advocate that there should be an Art Investment Fund that looks at arts solely as an asset and seek to provide investors with exposure to the benefits of an appreciating market.”
He further advocates that government should also give tax incentives or reduction for any hospitality business, organisation and private companies that encourage artist and art patronage. By so doing artist will stay on their job.
“By so doing, we are reducing unemployment in this sector. Artists are trained to create jobs. Government should put in place enabling laws to support and encourage entrepreneurs and by so doing, growing the arts. Government should come up with a policy of art embellishment in all our foreign embassies even encourage them to organise art exhibitions for artists thereby exposing them to foreign countries. With this, more artists will stay on their job. I believe arts (visual arts) should be taught every Nigerian child and made compulsory. This will help to make creativity and creative thinking in every child to have improved by the time he or she grows up to become somebody in life. He will think creativity and add value to the society. A society with a bad creative life gets a bad technology growth. The society that lacks in these important two things produces bad leaders. Our society in the past had values, but today there are a lot of violence, so much frustration and suffering. Life has become valueless and my advice to fellow artists is we should create works whose formalistic and thematic thrust is socially relevant.”
The self-taught artist urges the administration to walk the talk on diversification policy, adding that the government should evolve a viable supportive economic platform for the country. He said no serious nation will undermine the critical role of its creative industry, in which visual art plays a vital role.
Godwin may not be a household name, but the ideas he has espoused have a way of making the most inattentive government pause and take a second look and see if truly visual arts can improve the nation’s economy. And going by ideas he has espoused, surely they can. Even with the help of Holy Spirit from which the talented artist draws his inspiration.