Antecedence and Morphology of Garden Sculpture in Nigerian Art Schools
Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, Francis Ebunola Allan Oladugbagbe

Abstract
The earliest form of exposure of the African people to formal education was after the “scramble” for Africa by the colonial masters at about Nineteenth century. Formal education encouraged a new order of things and it particularly enriched the Nigerian cultural and relational periscopes. Since the establishment of formal Art Schools in Nigerian Higher institutions, among the most striking features and pride in contemporary times are the garden sculptures, which are located around the Fine and Applied Arts Departments of some of these institutions. With all the visual influence and aesthetic appeal that these sculptures and their public spheres generate, no serious effort has been made to discuss the antecedence and morphology of these garden sculptures. This paper attempts a study of some of these genres in relation to their academic environments through direct field survey of the “Zaria school”and Yaba “School”. The study forms a baseline material for future scholarship on contemporary sculpture in Nigerian higher institutions and also foreshadows a business-approach attitude towards environmental beautification through sculptural and other artistic means, which can be explored profitably by all Art Schools.

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