(Fixes punctuation in name of foundation)
By Alexis Akwagyiram and Nneka Chile
LAGOS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - An artist who was born in Britain
and raised in Nigeria has announced plans for a programme to get
painters, sculptors and other creatives living and working
together in the West African nation's commercial capital Lagos.
Yinka Shonibare - a Turner Prize nominee whose giant
'Nelson's Ship in a Bottle' work stood on a plinth in London's
Trafalgar Square - said he wanted artists from around the world
to apply for the first places in the residency scheme, which is
due to start in 2021.
"The journey has always been Africans going to the West and
I think we need to reverse that," Shonibare said on Saturday, at
the launch of his "Guest. Artists. Space. Foundation" that will
run the project and help fund African participants.
"It's important that African cultures are properly
understood in the context of Africa and that people actually
come here to learn," the London-based artist told Reuters.
Under the scheme, four groups of three artists will spend
three months every year based at sites in Lagos and on a 30-acre
farm in Ijebu town 100 km (62 miles) away. Construction work had
started on the sites, Shonibare said.
The launch coincided with Art X, an annual art fair held in
Lagos, that attracts artists from across Africa.
Experts say there has been growing interest in contemporary
African works.
"Prices have risen by between 70 to 100% since we started
auctions 10 years ago. And at the top end of the market it's
even stronger than that," said Giles Peppiatt, director of
contemporary African art at London auction house Bonhams.
The $1.6 million auction price set last year for 1974
painting "Tutu" by Nigerian artist Ben Enwonwu would have been
unthinkable five years ago, he added. (Writing by Alexis Akwagyiram; Editing by Andrew Heavens)