The
maiden edition of ART X Lagos took place between the 4th and 6th of
November at the Civic Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos. The three day
art fair was designed by TP-Collective to widen Nigeria’s
connection to the contemporary art scene across Africa and
internationally. ART X Lagos was created to provide the best insight
into what the visual art sector in Africa has to offer to a wider
local and international audience, and encourage African and
international patrons to visit Lagos.
ART
X Lagos had a record breaking 5,000 visitors spread over the three
days, who got to see the best art works by over 65 African artists
such as South Africa's William Kentridge, Zimbabwe's Kudzanai
Chiurai, Ghana's Jeremiah Quarshie, Cameroon's Barthelemy Togou,
Mali's AmadouSanogo and Nigeria's Sokari Douglas Camp, Rubi Onyiye
ChiAmanze, Ade Adekola, Rom Isichiei, Alimi Adewale, George Osodi,
Victor Ehikamenor and Lakin Ogunbanwo to name a few.
ART
X Lagos was a unique fusion of art, lifestyle and culture. The VIP
Opening Preview on the first day witnessed a large turnout of art
collectors, artists, gallery owners, film and music celebrities,
members of the diplomatic corps, captains of industry, media gurus
and A-listers on the social scene. They got to experience first-hand
the various works on display. The winner of the ART X Prize was also
announced at the Opening Preview, after a rigorous and diligent
process that began in September 2016.
Day
two and three of the art fair also witnessed a large turnout of
guests who, besides viewing the works on display, were part of ART X
Talks- an integral component of the fair’s special programmes. The
talks provided a dynamic and vibrant discursive platform to highlight
some of the topical issues concerning contemporary art and its
evolving infrastructures across the continent. Composed of panel
discussions, presentations and conversations, the distinguished list
of guest speakers included artists, collectors, curators, gallerists,
writers and entrepreneurs, who all engaged in the possibilities of
art as a vehicle through which our contemporary experience can be
articulated and understood.
Speakers
included Nigerian collector, Omooba Yemisi Shyllon, who owns over
6,000 art works, Chief Curator and Director of the Zeitz Museum of
Contemporary Art Africa, Cape Town, Mark Coetzee, and Curator at the
Tate Modern, London, and Zoe Whitley. Other speakers on the various
panels were the renowned artists Professors El Anatsui and Bruce
Onabrakpeya, the art patrons Ngozi Edozien and Femi Lijadu, and the
cultural entrepreneurs Mo Abudu, Reni Folawiyo and Bolanle
Austin-Peters, who brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to
the panel discussions.
One
program that had guests at the exhibition really excited was ART X
Live! which had two components. ART X Live: The Studio curated by A
Whitespace Creative Agency, where a collective of emerging artists
drew and painted live at the venue! These artists included: Uthman
Wahaab, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Osi Itegboje,
Stacey Okparavero, Olatunde Alara, Kadara Enyeasi and Karo Akpokiere.
There
was also ART X Live: Intersections, a live art and sound performance
installation that fused emerging visual artists and four of the
fastest rising music artistes, produced by Ikon. Intersections was
co-curated by Fatherland Media and A Whitespace Creative Agency, and
featured stars such as Vector, Simi, Falana and Poe performing
alongside visual artists Yadichinma, Stacey Ravvero, Tunde Alara and
Dricky.
Speaking
at the closing, Tokini Peterside, ART X Lagos Founder, and Managing
Director of TP-Collective, said: ‘The response to ART X Lagos has
been simply phenomenal. Over three days we have watched visitors from
various parts of Nigeria, Africa and the international community,
engage with the best contemporary art from around our continent.
These visitors were excited by the talent on display, and their
reactions to the work and our interactive projects, have solidified
our commitment to the mission and ambition of ART X Lagos. We are so
motivated by the turn out that we have already begun the journey
towards ART X Lagos 2017. We thank our sponsors and our Media
Partners and Lifestyle Partners, as well as the galleries and
artists, without whom this would have been impossible. We look
forward to seeing you next year, as we set out to further reinforce
the city of Lagos’ position as a cultural capital in Africa!
