Art and music have always been the key pillars of African culture. For centuries, these mediums of expression have carried stories of the past, documented the present, and created avenues for conversations regarding the future. With this in mind, the 2022 edition of ART X Lagos kicked off with new participants including local galleries such as Affinity Art Gallery, Art Pantheon, and Alexis Galleries alongside Cape Town’s THK Gallery, Dakar’s Selebe Yoon, and Casablanca’s African Arty.
Themed "Who Will Gather Under The Baobab Tree?" the annual exhibition hosted in Lagos, Nigeria, ushered guests to the Federal Palace Hotel to experience the best art from 31 galleries and over 100 African artists. It allowed guests to witness the reimagination of African history and seek answers to questions regarding the continent's future and what lies ahead for its cultural identity.
“Ulin-Nófo, The Lineage That Never Ends” by Nigerian multimedia art, photographer, and writer Victor Ehikhamenor, called to mind the significance of the old Benin Kingdom in the intercontinental exchange between Africa and Europe. The installation utilised rosary beads, sound, and bronze to challenge the choices behind our existence as a community.
In a similar light, “Forgotten Paradise: Dream of the Other Side of the River” by Senegalese photographer Malick Welli prompts viewers to confront the legacy of enslavement. The work, in collaboration with director Charlotte Brathwaite, trails the dreams and nightmares of enslaved Muslim scholar Omar Ibn Said. It projects the longing, hope, and prayers of those who awaited his return on the river shore within a positive frame.
Presented by DADA Gallery, paintings and sculptures by Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Samson Bakare offered a colourful window into black identity. The artist explores alternative presentations of black reality as he shifts away from the usual societal standards. Characterized by his signature protruding eyes, Bakare offers narratives of fashion as a way of self-acceptance within a new generation.
For her first solo exhibition, 2021’s Access ART x Prize winner, Chigozie Obi drew inspiration from the lack of documentation that trailed the lived experiences between herself and her late mother. Her exhibit titled “Le Journal de Gozie” presents a combination of mixed media paintings, video journal installations, and self-portraits in oil all set within the backdrop of the artist’s residency at Gasworks London.
ART X Live, the fairs music and art fusion platform featured the music styling of London-based Nigerian artist, Obongjayar; South-African DJ and Amapiano Producer DBN GOGO; Afro-reggae singer, Winny; alongside video artist Daberechi, and 2D animation artist Fahd Bello. Under the theme “US” each performer offered an immersive and electrifying presentation celebrating history through sampling, interpolation, direct references, collaging and more.
Overall, ART X Lagos 2022 was an endearing experience. Attendants were sure to leave with a renewed spark of African cultural awareness and thinking. As the baobab tree is often referred to as the tree of life, one can hope that we recall the very essence of our spiritualities, sensibilities, knowledge, and culture as Africans has nourished the world for centuries. Now is the time to pour this into our collective futures. This a timely sentiment for Nigeria as the country is currently at a crossroads regarding the upcoming general elections.
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