ART X LAGOS returns with expansive, dynamic programme at new venue
Stories by OBINNA EMELIKE
ART X Lagos, West Africa’s first international art fair, is returning for the fourth edition with expansive and dynamic programme. Moreover, the fair is relocating to The Federal Palace in Victoria Island, Lagos, after three successful editions at The Civic Centre.
According to the organisers, this year’s edition, which holds from November 1-3, 2019, promises to showcase the very best of contemporary and modern art from Africa and the Diaspora.
The move to The Federal Palace marks a significant step in ART X Lagos’ evolution, offering the fair a vastly increased venue capacity, with the number of participants growing from 14 booths to 23 gallery booths, with several exhibitors occupying much larger booths.
Also, a strong host of Nigerian galleries are returning this November with exhibitors including; Art House- The Space, Bloom Art, Nike Art Gallery, Retro Africa, SMO Contemporary, as well as, the addition of Mydrim Gallery, among others. Ed Cross Fine Art (United Kingdom), Everard Read (South Africa), Galerie Voss (Germany), Galerie Cécile Fakhoury (Côte d’ivoire), Goodman Gallery (South Africa) and Louisimone Guirandou Gallery (Côte d’ivoire) make up some of the new international exhibitors who will showcase at ART X Lagos this November.
A number of exciting artists from across the continent and beyond will showcase this year including; Abe Odedina (Nigeria / UK / Brazil), Soly Cissé (Senegal), Sam Nhlengethwa (South Africa), Tizta Berhanu (Ethiopia), Peju Alatise (Nigeria), and Lady Skollie (South Africa) who make up some of the 70 plus exhibiting artists.
The fourth edition of the fair also sees the introduction of art X Modern, a new section dedicated to celebrating pioneers of African modern art from the 20th century, presented by Stanbic IBTC Pensions. The section will comprise of three galleries: Bloom Art (Nigeria), Mydrim Gallery (Nigeria) and Gallery 1957 (Ghana), featuring artists such as Professor Ablade Glover (Ghana), Uche Okeke (Nigeria), and O bi or aU dechuk wu( Nigeria ), among other reputed names.
ART X Lagos’ move to The Federal Palace allows for greater curated sections and an enhanced visitor experience including the introduction of a Performance Art section for 2019. Curated by artist Wura-natasha Ogunji, The Performance Art Pavilion will feature a series of performances exploring the connection between art and ethics. Titled ‘Small Acts’, the section will comprise of three live performances by nigerian artists; Ngozi Schommers, and Taiwo Aiyedogbon.
ART X Lagos founder, Tokini Peterside commented, “We are delighted to announce the ambitious expansion of ART X Lagos this year. Our move to The Federal Palace enables us to deliver, at our fourth edition, a markedly enhanced experience from prior years, with the addition of new sections, as well as, the growth in the fair’s size and scope. We continue to redefine the boundaries of what an art fair can hope to achieve, through our curated and interactive projects, our Prize for emerging artists, as well as, ART X Live! - all of which combine to showcase the very best of contemporary and modern, established and emerging, art and culture from Africa and the Diaspora. We are excited to see how our audience responds to these innovations, and look forward to welcoming visitors from all over the world to ART X Lagos this year.”
Also, following a rigorous screening process by the jury earlier in September, five finalists were invited for final presentations t for The Access Bank ART X Prize. Etinosa Yvonne, a selftaught documentary photographer, was revealed as the winner of the 2019 Access Bank ART X Prize, at the ART X Lagos 2019 official launch event on September 12, 2019. She will claim the winnings of cash grant of N 1.5 million, three months residency at Gasworks, London, in 2020, and a solo presentation at ART X Lagos in 2020.
Runners-up; Ayomitunde Adeleke, Christopher Nelson Obuh, Yadichinma Ukoha-kalu, and Peter Ebahi Okotor, will also exhibit alongside 2019 Winner, at the Access Bank ART X Prize section of the fair this November.