ART X Lagos delivers a unique experience for the 4th edition of its annual international fair
In the fourth edition of its annual international fair, ART X Lagos, West Africa’s premier international art fair, surpassed the curiosity of many by creating a truly unique art, lifestyle and cultural experience for a wide variety of its local and international audience. This year’s edition held from November 1-3, 2019, and for the first time at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, which allowed for significant growth from 2018, welcoming 9,000 visitors in total.
The fair was opened by Yemi Osibanjo, vice president, Federal Republic of Nigeria, who was joined by Babajide Sanwo- Olu, governor of Lagos State, as chief host. Other noteworthy guests included; Aliko Dangote, president, Dangote Group; Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker, House of Representatives and Salamatu, his wife; Godwin Emefiele, governor, Central Bank of Nigeria; Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Ontisha, among others.
Opening the fair, Yemi Osibanjo, vice president of Nigeria, commended the efforts of the ART X Lagos team saying, “Looking around, it is evident that we are well represented around the world. This fair exhibits an important interface between, art, politics, history and culture for us as Nigerians and Africans. It is very exciting to see that foreign galleries are propagating Nigerian and African art.”
In order to fulfill its commitment to expanding for 2019, ART X Lagos saw a vast increase in the number of gallery booths, growing from 14 to 23, exhibiting over 90 artists from 25 countries across the continent. The fair featured eight sections in total including the addition of ART X Modern, and The Performance Pavilion.
Offering her summary on the fair, Tokini Peterside, founder & director of ART X Lagos, reiterated her commitment to redefining the African narrative by showcasing the best of Africa through its art and culture.
“Through ART X Lagos, we have created an atmosphere for people to come and be inspired, to be provoked, to be challenged and to dream. Art collectors, as well as, everyday people who may never purchase this art, are given the opportunity to transition their excitement about the visual art we showcase, into euphoria that we hope will then generate employment and economic opportunities within the arts and culture sector for our people across Nigeria and across the continent. Through our curated and interactive projects, our prize for emerging artists, as well as, ART X Live!, we have been able to unconventionally showcase the very best of contemporary and modern, established and emerging, art and culture from Africa and the Diaspora. We look forward to welcoming a greater audience of friends, collectors and international art enthusiasts at the next edition of ART X Lagos, our fifth anniversary, which will hold in November 2020.”
Babajide Sanwo-olu, governor of Lagos State, the 2019 chief host, expressed his delight at the success of the fair. “We have realised that Lagos has to be the entertainment and tourism destination in Nigeria and Africa, and we as a government must focus on developing this industry. ART X Lagos has taken an audacious step in its stance for creativity, innovation and the belief in human beings and as a government, we want to support the vision to create an enabling environment for Nigerians, businesses, and innovations like this to flourish.”
Beyond the 22 exhibiting galleries, many of whom reported strong sales of art, the expansive programming at ART X Lagos 2019 featured a number of exciting innovations. Speaking during the Talks Programme, Keynote Speaker Wangechi Mutu delivered an incredibly powerful speech, captivating the entire audience. Amongst her many powerful statements, she noted that, “The mother of all histories is African history; the mother of all art is African art.” Other speakers during the talks include Emeka Ogboh, Antawan Byrd, Reni Folawiyo, N’goné Fall, Joel Benson and Ugoma Adegoke.
Two projects by Emeka Ogboh were exhibited at this year’s fair, the first project Lagos 20Hz - 20khz was newly commissioned by ART X Lagos and conceived as a threechannel sound work, each channel corresponding to an area within the fair. The second project Àlà (2014) is a video work that uncovers shared and intimate details of lives lived in Lagos. In Ogboh’s talk at the fair, he discussed Àlà and how the sounds of Lagos compelled him to embrace sound as a medium in his art practice.
Other captivating curated projects included The Realities of Demas, a virtual reality film by Joel Benson, a second commissioned project at the fair. Additionally, augmented reality was showcased through a fourth curated project, This is Lagos, which highlighted threats to the environment through augmented reality and the work of three fantastic emerging photographers: Amanda Iheme, Ifebusola Shotunde, and Nyancho Nwanri.
For 2019, ART X Lagos also debuted the Performance Pavilion, which integrated the medium of performance art into the fair programme. Titled small acts the pavilion was curated by visual artist Wura-natasha Ogunji. On Friday, guests were stunned by Water Work by Eca Eps; Saturday’s poetic feature was MIRROR MIRROR by Taiwo Aiyedogbon; and a moving performance, held on Sunday, was If not for a child...by Ngozi Schommers.
Sponsored by 7UP, the Interactive Projects were curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency and explored the theme of PLAY. One project revisited African, pictorial motifs and the second project invited viewers to make wishes as a collective. In a nearby section at the fair, the winner of the 2019 Access Bank ART X Prize, Etinosa Yvonne, and the four prize finalists, Ayomitunde Adeleke, Yadichinma Ukoha- Kalu, Peter Okotor, and Obuh Christopher Nelson, were also introduced to the fair audience.
On Saturday night, the fair’s one-night-only showcase, ART X Live!, held, this year themed Making the Maverick. Curated by Lanre Masha, the show featured three dynamic performances from Buju, Lady Donli, and Wurld, and a guest performance from Mr Eazi, with music produced by TMXO. The accompanying exhibition, curated by Faridah Folawiyo, showcased visual art by Joy Matashi and Dafe Oboro. The riveting experience highlighted some of the most promising talent on the continent.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Herbert Wigwe, group managing director/ CEO, Access Bank Plc, Gold Sponsor of ART X Lagos, remarked: “It is thrilling to see the unfolding excitement that ART X Lagos is bringing to Nigeria and Africa as a whole. We have significantly grown from accommodating a few thousand people from our very first edition… we are determined to change the entire creative sector. ART X Lagos has managed to represent not just West Africa but the entire African continent. It is a fair that has made a difference, spoken to the beauty of all parts of Africa and encouraged inclusiveness across the continent. This partnership between ART X Lagos and Access Bank is proof that as Africans, we can harness the best talents we have in the country and on the continent and collectively change the narrative for the best.”
ART X Lagos 2019 promised a refreshed experience and undoubtedly delivered on this incredibly ambitious goal.