With a Stunning Debut, +234 Art Fair Promotes Emerging Talents

Adash of extra creative zest to the already effervescent Lagos contemporary art scene is not only essential but invigorating. Indeed, despite the recent surge of art events in the littoral commercial capital city, the +234 Art Fair—as the most recent and inspiring addition to the yearly visual arts calendar—stands out as a beacon in the annual artistic landscape, DPLG WKH DIWHU WRQHV RI UHFHQW DUW ÀHVWDV thus embodying the concept of “the more, WKH PHUULHU µ 7KH IDLU GHÁHFWV SRWHQWLDO censure for hopping on the bandwagon, which tauntingly trails it like a phantom. And with a unique selling point that bears all the hallmarks of sustainability, it also dispels fears of potentially saturating the art scene with a promise of enriching rather than overwhelming it. In any case, the continually evolving art community can only benefit from this injection of new perspectives and the fostering of artistic dialogue.

Still, this meticulously orchestrated art event, which officially opened to the public on March 22 and ends today (March 31), transcends the notion of the mere proliferation of art fairs. Granted that it hopes to enrich the local cultural tapestry, it sets its sights on championing budding artists while nurturing partnerships with established ones. It also breathes vitality into the art economy by fostering collaborations and boosting art patronage. As for its core mission of connecting artists and collectors, it not only elevates Nigeria’s contemporary art scene but also cultivates a vibrant local artistic network that resonates on both national and global stages.

However, organising an art event of this magnitude, particularly one that might have been conceived to surpass its forerunners, could not have been an easy task. It must have taken a great deal of preparation in advance. Kudos, therefore, to Soto Gallery, its principal sponsor, Ecobank, and all the other sponsors and partners—among many others, the Federal Ministry of Culture, Leadway Insurance, and Africa Finance Corporation—for what turned out to be an incredibly successful, one-of-a-kind visual extravaganza.

Then, there is also the fact that it is being held in a purpose-built 3,800-square-metre state-of-the-art venue at the Ecobank Pan-African Centre, which adjoins the Ecobank creek-front headquarters building on Victoria Island. This venue boasts not only a large exhibition space capable of showing 1000 art works—a reason it SULGHV LWVHOI RQ RͿHULQJ ´WKH ODUJHVW DUW exhibition Nigeria has seen”—but also a restaurant, a VIP lounge, a seminar room, a waterfront view, and 300 parking spaces.

Rallying under the theme Nigeria: A New +HULWDJH $UW )DLU RͿHUV D YLVXDO VPRUgasbord of artworks that explore historical themes related to Nigeria, whether real