Art X Lagos returned to The Federal Palace, Victoria Island, for its 8th edition to explore ideas, prompting reflection and mutual sharing, to guide our reimagination of the here and now differently. The theme for this year’s edition was ‘The Dialogue,’ which prompted negotiation beyond political and social dilemmas. The curation for this theme featured past and present artists whose story forms based on folklore and tales by moonlight, graphic stories, film shorts, and essays produced nuanced portrayals of real and imagined places and people.
How to hold the sun by Adulphina Imuede, Wunika Mukan Gallery stand. Courtesy of Art X
The fair featured 35 exhibiting artists from 10 galleries contributing to the visual arts ecosystem across Africa and the Diaspora. The galleries included were Nike Art Gallery (Nigeria), Tiwani Contemporary (U.K. and Nigeria), Gallery 1957 (Ghana), Galerie MAM (Cameroon), Wunika Mukan Gallery (Nigeria), Afriart Gallery (Uganda), Alexis Galleries (Nigeria), kó Art Space (Nigeria), O'DA Art Gallery (Nigeria), and SMO Contemporary Art (Nigeria).
From solo to group shows, these galleries had diverse presentations of paintings, sculptures, and multi-media installations. Nike Art Gallery spotlighted works from Nigerian established artist Bruce Onobrakpeya, alongside Nike Okundaye’s collaborative and noteworthy pieces with Tola Wewe. The fair’s objective to stimulate dialogue was made even more evident with artists like Uthman Wahaab’s exploration of the female body in rest in his ‘‘Where is Chi Chi’’ series presented by O’DA Gallery, Ejiro Fenegal’s stone sculptures in a group exhibition at SMO Contemporary Art alongside Nelson Makamo and Christoper Samuel Idowu’s paintings, and Adulphina Imuede’s solo presentation of her new works at Wunika Mukan, amongst others.
Interactive installation by Papa Omotayo & Max Kalaiwo. Courtesy of Art X
This year, in keeping with the theme, Art X Lagos introduced ‘Special Projects’ and ‘Art X Cinema.’ The 2023 Special Projects at Art X invited audiences to interact with the interactive installations and then with one another. It was a collaborative effort by artists, archivists, and storytellers to investigate the various intersections of art and culture in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond. The 'Writing With...' was a presentation by renowned printmaker Bruce Onobrakpeya, in collaboration with Chapel Hill Denham and curated by Missla Libsekal. The project focused on Onobrakpeya's work to retrieve and reinterpret texts written for the ear and reshape them into modern art. There was also Ed Keazor’s ‘Graphic Stories’, a retrospective look at stories featuring everyday life in Nigeria from the 1940s to the 1980s through illustrations. Curated by Aindrea Emelife, curator of The Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), MOWAA presented the Nigeria Imaginary Incubator Project, conceived in collaboration with the Nigerian Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale. In this installation, visitors to ART X Lagos were able to interact with the core themes of the Pavilion - nostalgia and utopia. Some of the participants’ recorded responses will be included in the Pavilion in 2024. ‘Passing / Building / Victory’ by Dennis Osadebe is a collaborative project with NBA Africa that explores the essence of community and togetherness through the game of basketball. Papa Omotayo’s ‘The Hands That Remain’ is an interactive installation presented as an archive of those left behind in the home we are still building. The audience was asked to acknowledge what it means to remain and hope.
The Art X Cinema featured films and documentaries from artist-filmmakers, including John Akomfrah and Black Audio Film Collective, Kader Attia, Ibrahim Mahama, Betehlem Makonnen, Fatimah Tuggar, and Ezra Wube, amongst others.
Book shop view. Courtesy of Art X
Another highlight of the fair is the presentation of works from Dafe Oboro and Belinda Kazeem-Kamiński, 2022 Access ART X Prize winners for Nigeria and the Diaspora, curated by Jumoke Sanwo. The Access ART X Prize is a prestigious award for emerging artists from all over Africa and its Diaspora, in partnership with Access Holdings/Access Bank. Kazeem-Kamiński’s solo exhibition 'Ire' is an introspective photographic series that stems from the artist's deep engagement with Yoruba cosmology. With his solo show ‘Odafe,’ Dafe Oboro takes an introspective approach, using film, sound collage, theatrical metaphor, and self-portraiture to explore themes of cultural displacement, migration, masculinity, spirituality, and rebirth.
The ART X Talks, a series of talks curated by Missla Libsekal, was another highlight at the fair. The discussions continued in keeping with the year's theme of the fair with panelists Bruce Onobrakpeya, Ibrahim Mahama, and Femi Lijadu sharing their distinct viewpoints on contemporary African art. Bénédicte Alliot (Cité Internationale Paris), Belinda Holden (G.A.S Foundation, Lagos), Jumoke Sanwo (K-Air, Lagos), Daudi Karungi (Founder of Afriart Gallery), Reni Adeagbo (Gallerist at kó), Kwadwo Asiedu (Artist), and Etinosa Yvonne (Documentary Photographer, Visual Artist) discuss how artists and curators can progress their careers within the art ecosystem at the development forum.
Visitors in front of Uthman Wahaab’s works. Courtesy of Art X.
Finally, the 2023 ART X Live! The fair's one-of-a-kind live music and art experience featured headliners Tay Iwar and Azekel, as well as eclectic DJ Dope Caesar, for a night of exceptional musical storytelling. Lanre Masha and Ayo Lawson organised the concert.
Despite featuring only ten galleries this year, Art X highlighted different exhibitions in the vibrant Lagos art scene. This was to give fairgoers a chance to explore the lineup of exceptional events and engage with the local art scene during Lagos Art Week, from the ongoing Lagos Photo Festival 2023 to a group exhibition titled ‘Wonderland’ at Affinity Gallery.
Once again, Art X has solidified its position as one of the leading art fairs in West Africa and in the Diaspora with its commitment to fostering conversations that move the African art scene forward. The theme for this year, Dialogue, did not only guide the interactions to focus on the here and now, but it also redirected the artistic energy of the city at a time of great economic despair. The exhibited works and special projects encouraged deep connections between gallerists, artists, collectors, and fairgoers. Also fostering cultural exchange, the fair continues to remain an art event to look forward to.
See you at Art X Lagos 2024!