The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Hon. Adegboyega Oyetola CON, will lead maritime industry stakeholders and guests to the 3rd edition of African Maritime Arts Exhibition (AMAE) in Lagos.
Ezinne Azunna, Programme Director for AMAE, disclosed this in a press statement disseminated on Thursday, stating that AMAE 2024 will commence with a formal opening on Friday, November 22nd, 2024 at 10.30am at the Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to AMAE’s Lead Curator, Ezinne, the 2024 edition themed: “History & Trends: Seascapes from Nigeria’s Blue Economy,” will feature a public presentation/ reading of maritime short stories developed by children under the Maritime Writes Project, a sister initiative of the company.
“Curated by the National Gallery of Art, AMAE this year will have an exquisite formal opening of the exhibition; private/ executive viewing for special guests; live drawing/ painting; and Blue Economy in Art for Children and Schools.
“AMAE 2024 is also unique because we are partnering with the National Gallery of Artd (NGA) and Naval Dockyard – two organisations known for the masterpieces they create in the art and maritime world.
“We are delighted to announce that expected guests include prominent personalities from the polity, Heads of Agencies, Captains of Industries from the Maritime/Blue Economy/Art, various embassies, trade partners and institutions. AMAE 2024 will open to the public from November 22nd to November 24, 2024,” Ezinne said.
She explained that from ports and jetties to ships and the sea, rivers and estuaries, coastal communities, beach scenes, seafaring, marine life and science, seascapes and all – art that tell the story of various eras in Africa as a Maritime Continent.
“We also showcase policy drives by organisations, campaigns and causes on sea piracy, Nigerian Navy’s historical assets, marine plastics, marine environment, search and rescue, oil spillage, climate change, women in maritime, research and marine investigations, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 to mention a few,” she added.
AMAE is an annual Art Exhibition built around the succinct portraiture of the Blue Economy and its causes, using creative aesthetic and semiotic elements.
The event, which is a blend of three worlds Africa, Maritime and Art, has in the last two years explored various kinds of art for the promotion the Marine/ Maritime/ Blue Economy in Nigeria and across Africa.
AMAE, is put together by Hazi’s Art, an arm of Maritime TV Africa to tell Africa’s marine/ maritime story using images and artistic impressions, painting, drawing, digitized photography, textile print, sculpture and many more to steer public interest towards the Blue Economy.
AMAE is a platform for the meeting of the town and gown in the society, it has become the networking space bridging gaps between Maritime sector and the society.