The Concept and Evolution of Art Styles/ Schools in Contemporary Nigerian Art
Sir (Dr) Godwin Ogheneruemu Irivwieri Ksj
Abstract
Students of African Art Historical Studies have often been overwhelmed with the issue of misconception in the
evolution and usage of these terms – Art Styles/Schools in Contemporary Nigerian Art. It is therefore the intention
of the writer to examine these terms so as to illuminate their essence and use in the proper art historical
perspective. An evolutionary incursion into these terminologies indicates that Style is a manner of treatment or
execution of works of art that is characteristic of a civilization, a people or an individual. The style of any art
work has very much to do with its historical context, subject matter and symbolism which is observable at four
levels namely personal, group, regional, and period. By and large, the evolutionary trend of styles in Nigerian art
has been developmental, starting with the Naturalistic style of the pre-independence era, through the Abstraction
of the post – independence period to the highly expressive post-FESTAC years to the present radical
experimentalist tendencies – inspiration, exploration and installation of the post – modernist era.
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