Valuable Insights From A Collector

It’s often said that rich people are those who don’t let opportunities slip through their fingers when they spot one. This idea of richness extends far beyond monetary wealth. It encompasses academic achievements, adventures, friendships, and more. In my case, this richness came in the form of cultural experiences.

In 2007, while visiting some old friends in Ibadan, I was introduced to Mr. Imal Silva, by then, the owner of a local art gallery. This meeting instantly enriched my cultural life. The gallery was brimming with beautiful paintings that caught my eye. Unable to resist, I left with three stunning pieces by promising artists—two of whom are now well-regarded in Canada and Germany.

A year later, I revisited the gallery and acquired three more works by talented artists. Today, all these artworks proudly hang in my home in Portugal, each piece a testament to those enriching encounters.

At the time, my profession as a road and bridge engineer often had me moving around Nigeria. My role with one of West Africa’s leading construction companies took me from Kwara to Warri and beyond. On a rainy day in 2009, I received a call from Mr. Silva. He was at Bruce Onobrakpeya’s rainy season workshop in Agbara-Otor. Onobrakpeya, a towering figure in Nigerian art, had drawn various artists to his creative haven.

I promptly set out to visit my old friend and was amazed by the artistic energy surrounding Prof. Bruce and his workshop. Imal was in the midst of his acrylic phase. Following Prof. Bruce’s advice, I bought the painting Imal was working on, valued at $1,200 USD. Seizing the moment, I also acquired two other pieces from the workshop, created by artists who are now making waves in the European art market.

These experiences taught me the value of embracing opportunities, especially those that offer cultural enrichment. Each painting in my home serves as a reminder of the richness that comes from seizing the right moments.

Being captivated by the melting pot of artists in that workshop, I made Imal promise to inform me when he attended the next workshop of Prof. Bruce. For those who don’t know, artists cannot apply for the workshops of the great Onobrakpeya. Prof. Bruce chooses those he deems worthy to participate in his workshops in Agbara-Otor. Imal was one of the few invited. It’s like winning the art lottery of West Africa.

Luckily, Imal was invited again and attended the dry season workshop of 2010. This time, I visited with my wife. During this visit, Prof. Bruce drew my attention to a painting Silva was working on at the easel. I call the painting “The City and the People.” To buy it, I had to pay 2,500 US dollars at that time.

Since then, I have expanded my art collection with works from other Nigerian artists, including Chief Zacheus Olowonubi Oloruntoba and Bruce Onobrakpeya. All of them now hang alongside Imal Silva’s works.

More valuable than all these acquisitions is the chance to meet creative and gifted minds. Don’t let such opportunities slip through your fingers.

It’s satisfying to see the growth and maturation of Imal Silva’s creative process. It’s also gratifying to receive offers from European collectors for the two paintings of his that I proudly own and appreciate.

The sky is the limit, or maybe not?

 

By Engr. Joseph Ribeiro