Iconic Lagos Exhibition opened at Didi Museum on Saturday 17 September. Hundreds of art lovers flocked to the gallery to get a first glimpse of the show and they were dazzled by the mesmerizing tributes to Lagos.
Bolaji Alonge – Eyes of a Lagos Boy, thanked all of the artists, guests and especially the partners and sponsors who have provided invaluable support: the British Council, Bature beer brewery, TV360, My Coffee, Fotospeed (best printer in Lagos), Lagos State Professional Photographers Association of Nigeria LASPPAN, SAVA Homes and Quintessence for providing beautiful interior objects to embellish the exhibition.
An exhibition of 23 artists is bound to be eclectic, but the organizers turned it into an explosion of color and emotions that warmed the hearts of all. Many of the artists were in attendance to explain what exactly they had in mind when creating their works. While a new vision of Lagos was the headliner, female twin DJ duo Wannixhandi also made heads turn.
Life without fashion is like a naked canvas and Jeanshiki Couture, a cult brand that combines traditional danshiki with jeans, added a touch of underground glam to the event.
All the works in the exhibition are for sale and many were picked up on the opening day. The organizers hope that the show will be sold out by the end of the ride on September 25. For some of the artists this is the first time their work is exhibited and sold. That encouragement and offering the works at an affordable price is part of the strategy to bring art closer to people.
The multi-media exhibition is dedicated to the largest city in Africa, the economic and cultural heart of Nigeria. ICONIC LAGOS is about celebrating everyday life in Lagos, honoring its inhabitants and exploring what makes the city unique.
Eyes of a Lagos Boy documents history from the African perspective, working towards a balanced representation. Kelechi Amadi-Obi says in the foreword of the catalogue: “It has become a favorite pastime for our people to complain about the bad image of the African continent. My question has always been what happened to our story tellers. The ultimate responsibility for changing this negative narrative lies in the hands of Africa’s image makers. Iconic Lagos is a strong attempt at telling the story of Lagos, one of Africa’s most vibrant cities. This exhibition captures the soul of Lagos through the eyes of these super talented artists. The images evoke the essence of the city from the vibrant colors of its streets and markets, the hustle and bustle, to the sun soaked beaches by its shores. These artists then become our modern day griots telling a more authentic narrative through photography and art to the next generation.”
ICONIC LAGOS consists of three elements: photography by Bolaji Alonge, mixed media images by Jason Ogbazi/Alonge and artworks by other artists – expressing their own vision of Iconic Lagos. A call for submissions was published in July and about 400 entries were received. 20 works were selected for the show at DIDI.
Participating artists: Adepegba David / Akande John / Akinsola Olamilekan / Bolaji Alonge / Awosola Michael Angello / Motolani Bello / Joydeep Bose / Buthelezi Mpumelelo / Tosan Dudun / Jean-fidèle Ananou Ebenezer / Falore Olamiposi / Razaq Folami / Genco Sanli / OC George / Muni King-Keazor / Gaspard Lihouenou Koutchika / Lanre Lawal / Holly Muse / Jason Ogbazi / Okechukwu Samuel / Olaosun Oluwapelumi / Oluwayemisi Onadipe / Kola Onifoto Orowale
The exhibition runs every day from 10am to 6pm and entry is free of charge. Don’t miss it!
4 Comments