Afrikulture show of colours with ancient and modern

It was an evening of artistic display of works as lovers of art from Nigeria and overseas gathered at Pattaya Oriental Restaurant, Victoria Island, Lagos to give their support to some established and upcoming artists in the federation during a cocktail reception for a week long 2013 art exhibition.

The exhibition tagged ‘’Black, White and colours-in-between’’ was packaged by Afrikulture Entrepreneurial Arts Series and curated by Simileoluwa Lawson.


The exhibition which opened on the 29th of June ended on July 5th can be seen as  their own way of finding expression for the word emotion. It was an initiative of Afrikulture to give the upcoming artists a voice by creating the platform where they can exhibit with some established ones.

It featured various forms of art touching on both creative and performing arts. The works include paintings, drawings, sculpture, installations and new media works. Some of the exhibiting artists include: Bolaji Ogunwo, Damola Adepoju, Gregory Onyeka, Kole Oluwagbemi, Alao Luqman and Kemi Afolabi. Through the body of works displayed, the artists delivered their messages.

At the end of the exhibition, a piece titled The Journey was picked as the star piece. The work took into perspective gender sensitivities as the artist acknowledges the contributions of women to the family and community at large. Also, the artist places the audience in the position of a mother, wife, friend an companion. Capturing in one piece, the pain, passion, love, warmth, anger and joy of womanhood, in what seems to be a riot of emotions. The Cocktail of emotions and privilege of experiencing it all is what makes ‘’The Journey’’ through life interesting for every woman.

Apart from the art works, guests were treated to a special sound by a nine years old saxophonist, Joshua Akande.
Speaking with Vanguard Arts Simileoluwa said the event was meant to give the upstart artists  a voice by creating a mentor-ship platform where both established and upstart artists can exhibit alongside one another. ‘’By creating this platform, the upstart artists can leverage on the patronage enjoyed by established artists to carve a niche for themselves in the creative industry.”

The curator who described arts as a state of mind, a religion and business said through the exhibition, participants could calve a niche for themselves, ‘’we take pride in our network of partners and clients who work with us to make success a possibility,’’

Simileoluwa said the ceramic work was a choice piece for both commercial and private collections.