On Sunday the 14th of November 2021, the Signature Beyond Art Gallery at 107 Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State held its annual auction event. While Sunday launched the one-day physical and real-time bidding of an art auction that lasted a little bit longer than 2 hours, art enthusiasts and collectors had four days from Sunday 7th November-12th November 2021 to view artworks on the gallery’s website before the D-day. It lived up to its billing as The Most Awaited Auction in West Africa. Here is a brief of all but major happenings at the SOGAL AUCTION 2021. Arteasy Nigeria reports.
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At the extreme front of both sides of the auction space to not less than three rows behind are the “ ready-to-buy” art collectors who look like chairpersons of the occasion. Relaxed with the utmost decorum. Yet at alert with their paddles and the SOGAL AUCTION 2021 catalog ready to bid away.
However, the remaining seats seemed filled with “ auction crashers” who would not be occupying the Signature Art Gallery fancy chairs they were on if the ceremoney was strictly by invitation.
Like onlookers, they stare shortly when new artworks are called up to be brought in, and the starting bid is announced. Or a speedy check of the bidder who just bought a #8million naira piece of art.
Opening the gallery’s door, which had the absence of professional securities/bouncers as one (a first-timer maybe) would expect, into the glamorous welcoming hall of the Signature Beyond Art Gallery Lagos and closer to the mesmerizing auction space of 2021 SOGAL AUCTION can be likened to walking inside the enchanting reception of a multiracial wedding ceremony.
The sight of the vivacious and exuberant white skin auctioneer standing in close proximity to breathtaking, jaw-dropping, magnetic pieces of art clearly almost gives that kind of impression.
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Nevertheless, as you sit and get a clear-cut view of the Founder Rahman Akar who doubled as the gazel-wielding auctioneer, you get the instant reminder of the purpose of the high profile gathering.
“Come on guys.” the audience is urged on by the auctioneer. “ Bid now. Bid now let’s move”.
Something For Everyone
Even though some of the artworks placed on the auction blocks were announced with starting bids valued at over half a million naira. The SOGAL AUCTION 2021 had something for everyone willing to invest in the Nigerian Art market.
By contrast with the way we know auctions, especially popular international ones. On auction, are artworks from 250,000 Naira to 500,000 Naira and above.
If the artwork is one that the management has been wanting to give away to relieve their gallery of space and fear of decreasing value, the auctioneer was glad to declare a spontaneous discount in an attempt to spur the focused audience to take it away.
See Works of The Masters Live
Although this was anticipated by the audience, there was still a gasp for breath when the works of masters of Nigerian art living or dead were called up to the auction blocks.
It may be that the audience is starting to see the classic pieces of art differently with the guide of the strategic radiant lighting. And is it not so like with everything you love?
You only know the worth and value of something when it is about to go away forever into the private collection of an anonymous individual without the like option of seeing or offering a price for it when you hit the jackpot.
The Biggest Sealed Auction Prices and Names of Sold Artworks
The sculpture piece of Ben Osawe Untitled {1999, Bronze} was sold for #8.1million. It, therefore, was the biggest sealed auction price of the 2021 SOGAL Auction.
If you do a deduction of #4million from that price, one of the most recognized artists from the Osogbo Experimental Art Workshop Twins Seven-Seven would hold 2nd place in the list of the most expensive works auctioned off. His work, Group of Acrobatic Display {Mixed Media on Board, Nil} was sold for #4.1million.
Coming at third place for #4million each are LOT 30 { Frenzy, Acrylic on Canvas, 2018, by El Dragg Okwoju} and LOT 48 { Celebration, 2020, Acrylic on Wood Panne, Frederick Oko Marty}.
The prolific work of the legend- Uche Okeke, led the #3million pack as it hit the hammer at #3.5million. The artist who came close was Dennis Osakue; one of the very few artists whose works: Black lives matter and Brilliant fascinated the auction audience the most.
These works: Black Lives Matter and Brilliant- are either thought-provoking or stimulating for his realistic contentful use of colors and visual representations of his subjects acting out words intentionally inscribed on the art piece.
So, it was not much of amazement when all his works sold and Brilliant {Acrylic on Canvas, 2021} hit the hammer for #3million. The auctioneer himself expressed disappointment openly for the prices the works of Dennis Osakue got. But it is what it is after all: an auction.
Works from Rufus Ogundele LOT 47, Ben Osawe LOT 54, Saheed Adelakun LOT 56, and Emmanuel Ozugwo LOT 76 sold for #2million. While Uche Okeke’s controversial depiction at lot 53, Amos Odion sculpture in lot 52, Bunmi Babatunde exercising pieces in LOT 20 hit the hammer for #2million, #2.7million, and #2.5million respectively.
The Most Expensive Artworks
The three works of the 2021 SOGAL AUCTION with the most expensive starting bids were by Bruce Onobrakpeya LOT 64 { Ticha, mixed media on board, 1987} at #10million, Sussane Wenger LOT 44 {Adunni Olorisha, Oil on Canvas, 1975} at #15 million and Lamidi Fakeye {Lot 79A (Sango) and Lot 79B ( Arugba)} displayed to be sold together for #30million.
It was however surprising that no paddle would go up for any of the artworks from these masters. Perhaps, an eye-opener into the aftermath of Covid-19 in the sizes of the purses of the art enthusiasts.
Even though the auctioneer refused to sell the Lamidi Fakeye duo LOT 79A and LOT 79B separately upon submission of one of the paddlers to do so.
After one of the spotters of Signature Beyond Art Gallery at the auction was implored to narrate the Yoruba folklore relating to the characters: Sango and Arugba in an attempt to prove and describe the traditional and cultural importance of selling the Lamidi Fakeye pieces together.
“I am just saying every marriage can come with divorce”, says one of the auction participants in the hope to have a positive favorable effect on the self-willed auctioneer, Mr. Rahman Akar, to sell the Lamidi Fakeye Sango and Arugba separately.
All efforts by interested hard-up auction participants to own one of the Lamidi Fakeye sacred sculptures put up as the final auction pieces were guaranteed to be null and void by the auctioneer. He was not ready to let go of a sure masterpiece except on his terms and conditions.
After several backs and forth, the SOGAL AUCTION 2021 ended on that note. The few invitees who didn’t leave before the end of the auction spared a little bit more time to greet and congratulate those who bought what they wished they could afford or not. But it looks something more like that.
The atmosphere was very exciting. The emceeing of the auctioneer deserves accolades for his smooth-talking and ability to bring the audience alive with different antics.
Such as narrating his relationship with the artist whose works are being exhibited, artist history, talking about the Fela Shrine. In the hope to sell Sussane Wenger’s art piece. Or engaging the audience with the famous Fela Anikulapokuti’s songs. And calling for the simulation of his epic raised folded fist.
An auction audience without a budget would most likely spend more than they could afford. As the charm of the auctioneer captivated the audience.
One would question why Mr. Rahman Akar did not use a microphone to address his majorly Nigerian audience as would be expected.
Since he is soft-spoken and his accent is not what most audience members hear every day except in Hollywood movies. Actually, The SOGAL 2021 auctioneer did not need one. For his voice, sometimes tremulous for fear of not selling a piece he greatly anticipated to be sold- was fruity, appealing, and silvery.