Ogheneruemu, U. S. & Onoruarome, O. F. (2020). Kinetic Art: An Appraisal of Kinetic Sculpture Practice in Nigeria

Kinetic art is a genre that artists explore to create motion in their works. There are two types of kinetic sculpture practices existing in Nigeria. The first is the traditional kinetic sculpture practice which is the earliest type. The second type is the contemporary kinetic sculpture practice. The first is generally referred to as traditional masquerade that requires human actuation. It is currently being threatened by the emergence of foreign religion and modernity that has classified them as fetish. While, the second type of sculpture practice that needs stimuli such as mechanical, electrical devices; or natural means such as wind or air-current has not been fully entrenched in Nigerian artistic environment. This paper therefore x-rayed these kinetic sculpture practices in Nigeria with a view to highlighting their importance to the socio-cultural and economic development of contemporary Nigeria. Some selected traditional and contemporary kinetic sculptures were critically  appraised to determine their character, roles and prospects in contemporary Nigeria society. It was observed that masquerades which were found in most cultures in Nigeria are gradually going extinct. While very little impact has been made in contemporary kinetic sculpture. If both traditional and contemporary sculpture practices are preserved, harnessed and synergised, they would bring about radical kinetic art sensibility in Nigerian artistic landscape and boost tourism potentials for Nigeria.