UK Lockdown : 05 / 04 / 2020
While I didn't really catch any art on my visit to Lagos and Abuja in 2001/2, surfing the internet in UK lockdown 2020, I've found some interesting finds. I started my search on street art and found Eko Tag, a community putting up monuments around Lagos most recently they have worked with the artist Osa Seven, working on his mural at Ozumba Mbadiwe as part of the Lagos@50 celebration.
'In constant pursuit to change the African narrative towards street art and Art in Public Space.' Osa Seven
To see more of Osa's work visit his insta here.
'In constant pursuit to change the African narrative towards street art and Art in Public Space.' Osa Seven
To see more of Osa's work visit his insta here.
Osa Seven
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| Osa Seven Mural at Ozuma Mbadiwe |
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Laolu Senbanjo
Another artist whose work I found and love is Laolu Senbanjo. He gave up his job as a human- rights lawyer in Nigeria to move to New York in 2013 to follow his dream of being an artist. He was a struggling immigrant artist - and then Beyonce called. His work is detailed, tribal , urban and political while using everything as his canvas. For more visit Laolu's insta here.
@cosmopolitan share his story my story
Amerikkka is to guns as Mary is to Jesus.
It’s easier to ban books in America than it is to ban guns.
In America there are 89 guns for every 100 people.
More than 36,000 Americans were victims of firearm-related deaths in 2015.
Gun-related deaths are now the third leading cause of death of American children.
Every day, 7 children are killed and 12 more are injured with a gun.
In 2018 calendar year we've seen 307 mass shootings.
The 2nd Amendment gives American citizens the right to bear arms. However, is this really necessary? Are we at war? Yes, we are. We are at war with gun violence. How many more Mothers have to lose their children before the constitution changes?
As an Artist I cannot be silent. Your silence means acquiescence. Be the voice for those who don't have one . Education shouldn't mean sacrificing your child.
“African art is not just what you buy at Harlem market in New York, every piece of art you see has a story, and every artist has a name.”
-Laolu Senbanjo “Africa”
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Marcellina Oseghale Akpojotor
An amazing Nigerian women, is the artist Marcellina Akpojotor who has just recently exhibited @relegallery Young Contemporaries Alumni . Her technique is beautifully delicate, her figures are created from collaged pieces of vibrantly coloured and patterned Ankara fabric manipulated and mixed together to create her figures . Her subject matter is often of family and friends while capturing intimate moments, reflecting society around her.
An amazing Nigerian women, is the artist Marcellina Akpojotor who has just recently exhibited @relegallery Young Contemporaries Alumni . Her technique is beautifully delicate, her figures are created from collaged pieces of vibrantly coloured and patterned Ankara fabric manipulated and mixed together to create her figures . Her subject matter is often of family and friends while capturing intimate moments, reflecting society around her.
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| Closing the gap |
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| Kesiena's Diary by Marcellina Akpojotor |
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| "Trust the process as it is certain to birth new discoveries." |
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| All in the detail ****** |
Chris Ofili.
Chris Ofili is a British born Turner Prize (1998) winning artist with Nigerian parents. He is best known for incorporating elephant dung within his paintings and was one of the Young British Artists. He has worked and lived between London and Brooklyn but since 2005 he's resides in Trinidad.
My favourite examples of Chris Ofili's artwork are on a previous post.
The most current and poignant artwork I can find of his today is his 2020 official poster for the Tokyo Olympics, 'The Games People Play', depicting two figures merging into each other. I've also included his 2012 poster for the London Olympics , 'For the Unknown Runner'.
Question is will the Olympics go ahead?
Will the go ahead with closed doors?
Today, nobody knows what will happen.
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Yinka Shonibare
Yinka Shonibare a British - Nigerian artist, born in London moving to Lagos aged 3 and then back to the UK to study, and later become a Royal Acadamian. His artwork explores cultural identity, colonialism and post-colonialism within the context of globalisation. His work is mostly recognised by his use of brightly coloured Ankara fabric also known as Holland or Dutch wax fabric. The fabric was originally made in Holland for the textile market but became primarily recognised to be associated with Africa because of it's tribal like patterns and motifs. Yinka Shonibare's use of the fabric enhances his political commentary on the relationships between Africa and Europe, of their economical and political histories.
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Yinka ShonibareCake Man II, 2014: Photo: Stephen White |
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‘I see what’s happening as an African renaissance’ - Yinka Shonibare |
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| How to Blow Up Two Heads at Once (Ladies), 2006 : Yinka Shonibare Photo: Stephen White |
Yinka Shonibare : Guest Artists Space Foundation : GAS
While searching for more on Yinka I found his foundation that he has recently set up called,
The Guest Artist's Space Foundation / GAS.
In the magazine the The Face, Yinka Shonibare says:
“[Guest Artists Space Foundation] won’t just contribute to the Nigerian art scene, it will contribute to the British art scene and the American art scene too.”
Continuing on his instagram: There is a new wave of artistic philanthropy models in Africa, wherecelebrated artists wish to ‘give back’ and to support artists from the continent.
Yinka Shonibare has launched the development of his new artist residency @gasfoundation, that is dedicated to facilitate international artistic and cultural exchange and developing creative practices. Additionally, @shonibarestudio has created the private Ecology Green Farm in a rural town outside of Lagos. This farm supports the local ecosystem, by contributing to food security, creating jobs and boosting the local economy. “Shonibare is aware of and sympathetic to the challenges faced by artists everywhere (especially on the African continent) on their journey to recognition and success, and his initiative will have enormous impact on the future of the African art scene.”
I'm so excited to have found this, it truly is a fantastic project connecting art for a great cause worldwide. In connecting and sharing cultural differences and knowledge and cultural identities and experiences art becomes the foundation of communication Beyond Isolation I hope to see this grow, strength to strength. I'll return in the future for an update, meanwhile check out the links after the photos.
Take a look at these links, they are well worth a visit.
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