Curatorial Statement
The exhibition revolves around what it takes to be your true self, how long it takes to get there and a reflection on the journey. It aims to portray the challenges & successes accompanying the human journey of growth through the display of art. It centers on what it takes to be who you are and how long it takes to get to where you want to get to. It shows the challenges we face while on this journey of growing.
The event tagged "An era of African cultural and artistic rebirth following Millennials and Gen z " aims to communicate the core essence and presence of the African Renaissance through the use of Contemporary Art.
Through its carefully curated pieces, the exhibition intends to propel self-awareness whilst creating an avenue for artists to express themselves through their craft. An intrinsic value the exhibition intends to portray is the value of A period of stagnation faced by youths while growing up in developing countries. This exhibition will appeal to: Art Lovers and Art Enthusiasts particularly Gen-Z and Millennials, the exhibition is meant for everybody. This is because art is supposed to be enjoyed by everybody.
“waithood." This is a journey!
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“This exhibition revolves around what it takes to be your true self, how long it takes to get there and a reflection on the journey. It aims to portray the challenges and successes accompanying the human journey of growth through the display of art. It centers on what it takes to be who you are and how long it takes to get to where you want to get to. It shows the challenges we face while on this journey of growing.” ~ Ike Sandra
MEET THE ARTISTS
Popoola Nurudeen is a Nigerian artist, a graduate of the prestigious Yaba College of Technology Lagos, where he studied Fine art and majored in painting. He has the award for the best student in (painting section) 2014 and 2015 respectively, and also the overall best graduating student in the school of art, design and printing, Yaba College of Technology Lagos, 2016. He also have the award for the best painting/ mixed media in the 2018 Life in my city arts festival (LIMCAF). He had his first solo exhibition "EVOLVE" February 2021.He exhibited at an off exhibition in the 2022 Dak'Art Biennale, Senegal. His works has been collected both locally and internationally. After his NYSC, he worked briefly as a lecturer at The Ultimate University Portnovo, Benin Republic. Popoola works are inspired by Africa and its people.
youth, male and female, who while lusting after western characteristics still maintains the identity of their heritage. An attitude I hope new generation Africans can imbibe in their desire to live up to the fashion and expectations of today’s fanciful society.” ~ Popoola
Nurudeen CURATED BY IKE SANDRA, ASSISTED BY EGBENGWU CHARLES
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Somtochukwu Obi is a Nigerian visual artist born on the 28th of October,1994 in Lagos, Nigeria . Although he hails from Anambra state, Nigeria. He was raised in Lagos by his father who had a dream for Somtochukwu to become a pharmacist. Somtochukwu gained admission into Covenant University, Ota, ogun state, Nigeria to study Architecture. Which then introduced him to the Architectural ink pen after a year, but having an eye for Art, he then uses the ink pen made for building drawings to practice portrait art during his leisure time which built his skills both in handling the ink pen, in mastering light and shade of a portrait while using just one colour, just black and in the accuracy of his portrait drawings.
“With my black ink, Acrylic colours, newspapers and in some cases inspirational printed pictures, I use my Art as a medium to Express my emotions about my country and to document my experiences so far.” ~ Somtochukwu Obi
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Sophia Chioma Azoige is a multidisciplinary artist residing in River State, Nigeria.
In the year 1996, she was born in Ikom. She grew up in Gboko, Benue State, where she started drawing as a child. studied Fine Art and Design at Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt, River State. Art has broadened her vision and sense of appreciation for nature, every unfinished piece become a motivation for the next. Her works has been featured in several exhibitions. She is inspired by the beauty of human existence alongside her lifeexperience. She attempts to translate beauty and calmness to a broad spectrum of people. She believes life is a journey and one could encounter strain.
human existence alongside my life experiences, I attempt to translate beauty and calmness to a broad spectrum of people, I believe life is a journey and one could encounter strain. ~ Sophia Chioma Azoige
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Born 2000, Iyasele Ebilehita is a selftaught contemporary figurative artist living and working in Lagos Nigeria. A graduate of Computer technology he chose to eschew his academic certification for a professional career in visual arts as drawing has always been a passion for him. Ebilehita uses ink as his preferred medium to create works that encapsulates his perspective of the African lived experience Taking inspiration from the arbitrary scribbles of post mordern art masters to the hyperealists of his native country. His works are a fine line between abstraction and hyperfiguration as playing with contradictory images have always appealed to him. He continues to make thought provoking pieces in his home studio in Lagos Nigeria.
“Through the navigation of the inbetweens of extreme "minimalism" and "realism" I create works that combine the unrestricted essence of youthful geometric forms and the aesthetics of realistic figuration.”
~ Iyasele Ebilehita
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My name is Chidube Emmanuel, a 26 year old self taught artist from Enugu state, Nigeria.
I'm graduate with a Bachelor of science degree in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the prestigious University of Benin, Benin city, Nigeria. Upon completion of my studies, I worked several jobs, firstly as a graduate research assistant at a state university and later on as a graphic designer at a creative agency (all the while drawing habitually for fun). I decided to take my art more seriously in the year 2019 and I spent a lot of time studying the fundamentals of art and refining my technique. My style of has roots in realism but with a touch of impressionism/expressionism.
from oil paints, acrylics, , to digital. I am inspired by the simple stories he observes in the day to day activities of the typical (especially "Lagosians") ~ Chidube Emmanuel
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Amaefule Uchechukwugeme
Austen is a Nigerian artist and student of pharmacology in the University of Lagos. Born 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria. He has loved to draw for as long as he can remember, from scribbling on newspapers to recreating comics and cartoon characters. A self taught artist, he honed his skills and continued to draw and create art, adapting a contemporary blend of realism and conceptual art.Despite choosing to go to medical school and study a course quite distant from the arts, Drawing has always and still remains his first love.He works mainly with charcoals, graphite and ballpoint pens. He lives in Lagos, Nigeria where he creates his art from his home studio.
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Stars were meant to shine, such is the story of Akinbobola Oluwatosin Oriyomi, a promising multi talented Nigerian Contemporary Visual Artist and Photographer. Born in the city of Lagos in the year 2000, he had a big flair for drawing and painting even as a young child, 16 years later he began his journey into theworld of Art professionally. A graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, where he studied Art andDesign, he prides himself as an artist that has carved a niche for himself, as he refers to his own kind of art as "hyperrealism".
From using pastel and charcoal on mediums making commission paintings, his works speaks for him as his dexterity is next to none.
evolution of man from birth to death”
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Amos Osemwengie (B. 1996, Edo state, Nigeria) is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist, based in Lagos, Nigeria. His art journey stemmed at a very young age of 5 where he developed a burning curiosity for drawing. He engaged himself with painting comics and images of interest to him at the time and through exploring various mediums of artistic expression such as painting and occasionally photography, he has actively developed his practice over the years. Amos, did not initially set out to be an artist, only after earning his BSC in Plant Biology from the University of Benin did he come to the realisation that art was his true passion as he set out to pursue his art career in 2018.
paintings serves as a means through which i learn and explore the essence of being human while fulfilling my intrinsic desire to create. I see my work as a force for humanity, beauty and Love.” ~Amos Osemwengie
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Dianna Offor is an abstract expressionist painter and textile artist. She was born in 1999 and bred in Lagos and parts of London. She hails from anambra state. She grew up drawing and sketching as early as the age of 5. She attended Maryland Comprehensive Secondary School in 2010, where she approached visual arts with more enthusiasm in learning arts with passion. She continued to broaden her knowledge about drawing techniques and the use of light and shade. She is self taught in her practice of painting in which she struggled to create in her early years in the university before acrylic painting became her specialization.
do on my canvas by the Holy Spirit. I see lines, I see forms and I see shapes that come together to send a message. My context of imagery varies but it is the most unique technique and the most expressive form of art.” ~Dianna Offor
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Adepoju Samuel Babatunde Was born on 06 July 1996 in Lanlate,Oyo state. hails from Lanlate in Ibarapa East L.G.A, Of Oyo state. He attended Rockview model college Lanlate,Oyo state. His artistic career began at The Ibarapa Polytechnic eruwa now Adeseun Ogundoyin campus Eruwa where he obtained his national diploma (ND) in general art and later proceed to Yaba college of Technology were he obtain his higher national diploma (HND). Adepoju has participated in several exhibitions and auction in Nigeria. Adepoju Samuel Babatunde is a materials exploration Sculptor and works with fabrics. His body of works consist of fabrics, fiberglass, metal frame and wood products that can pronounce, beautify and enhance norms and values of an environment.
concentrate on creating sculptural works with the available materials which can be recycling waste such as faux and wood.”
~ Adepoju Samuel Babatunde
