“Re: Mediation” is an art exhibition by The African Artists’ Foundation featuring the works of Nigerian contemporealism artist Ken Nwadiogbu and the Title Deeds collective.
The exhibition, which was curated by Ayoola Princess, Fagbeyiro Philip, Olukosi Feranmi, and Sangotoye Olayinka, was open from Saturday, the 26th of September to Monday, 12th of October, 2020.
The Crux of Re: Mediation
“With the endlessly drawn-out discussion on the Restitution of African art, it is clear that the much-needed changes will not come through court proceedings or presidential mandates but by conscious, domestic action aimed to be more inclusive and accessible to all members of society for participation, especially the younger generation. If we hope to travel far in this fight, we must travel together.
Re: Mediation is a step in mitigating further damage this historical and cultural disconnect has caused.
Title Deeds, a collective of seven young artists who have responded to the past by creating individual bodies of work with a consciousness of history. These artists speak with distinct yet unified voices which echo the collective need of a young generation to take up the mantle of cultural progression.
From its progenitor, Ken Nwadiogbu who is questioning the objectification of culture and people, by posing thought-provoking questions on value through his mixed-media drawings to Lekan Abatan, who has personalised these ancestral objects and adorned them in modern European attire to speak on the appropriation and westernisation they have suffered in foreign lands. Magaret Otoikhine weaves over-the-top fictional narratives on how these artefacts may be retrieved through her Nollywood-esque movie posters. Emma Odumade explores the discussion through the eyes of primary school children further reinforcing the idea that this remediation is reliant on the younger generation. Maureen Uzoh speaks on the commercialisation of entire cultures for the financial satisfaction of a few elites. Wasiu Eshinlokun’s ‘The Journey I Never Want to Forget’ explores concealed embodiments of various responses towards the retrieval of the artefact slowly being uncovered. Yusuff Aina’s ‘My Visit to the British Museum’ is a recreation of an experience he had at the British Museum, able only to see objects of his ancestry by travelling to a different continent.
Re: Mediation hopes to spark conversations particularly with the younger demographic; educating us on what is at stake and persuading us to seek out ways to reconnect to our blocked memories.” – Excerpt from African Artists’ Foundation
The works of other young talented artists in the collective, TITLE DEEDS, were exhibited – further pushing this crucial dialogue of Restitution to the forefront.
OUR ANCESTORS WEAR PRADA
Artist: Olamilekan Abatan
Olamilekan Abatan, 23, is a Nigerian based visual artist who expresses his ideas through hyperrealism and the brilliant use of traditional fabrics on paper.
IMPACT OF CULTURAL DISCONNECT ON THE UPCOMING GENERATION
Artist: Emma Odumade
Emma Odumade, 20, is a Nigerian multi-faceted artist whose works centre around hyperrealistic drawings that question identity and explores the social constructs of beauty and power.
MR POLITICIAN
Artist: Maureen Uzoh
Maureen, 23, is a multi-disciplinary artist creating narrative-driven works that come in the form of drawings on paper or canvas.
THE JOURNEY I NEVER WANT TO FORGET
Artist: Wasiu Eshinlokun
Wasiu, 22, is a surrealist painter based in Lagos, Nigeria who sees life’s challenges as a tool for creating his artworks.
MY VISIT TO THE BRITISH MUSEUM
Artist: Yusuff Aina Abogunde
Yusuff, 23, is a Nigerian multidisciplinary artist based in Lagos. He works using a medium called “Ainaism”, a self-taught and invented technique of creating lines, African patterns, and symbols.
OCEANS 7
Artist: Margaret Otoikhine
Margaret, 23, also known as 30.12 photography is a photographer who uses the language of movie posters to capture humanity and tell stories – also to raise more awareness on gender equality, mental health, African culture, traditions, racism, and her most recent obsession, self-consciousness.
Once again, Re: Mediation hopes to spark conversations particularly with the younger demographic; educating us on what is at stake and persuading us to seek out ways to reconnect to our blocked memories.
African Artists’ Foundation is located at 3b Isiola Oyekan, Victoria Island, Lagos.
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