Latest news with #+234ArtFair
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nigerian youth in the spotlight at Lagos contemporary art fest
Two women, put onto canvas through paint and collage, hold the world in their hands -- and cast a spell on Nancy Keshinro. "I'm in love," the art collector and gallery owner said, as the work -- nearly as tall as she is -- stopped her in her tracks at +234Art Fair in Lagos. She can't stay long though, if she hopes to finish winding her way through some 600 works from 200 young Nigerian artists on display -- the energy at the contemporary arts festival matching the always-humming pace of the megacity where it's hosted. The country's art scene has descended on this year's +234 fair, where up-and-comers are in the spotlight at exhibitions meant to help them break through the insular market that Nigeria's cultural capital is sometimes known for. "Lagos is obviously very saturated, the artists are very centralised," festival founder Tola Akerele, who is also behind the renowned Soto Gallery, told AFP. "So we really try and make sure we get artists from all over Nigeria to showcase their work." Finding enough artists to break through the mould isn't particularly difficult in a Africa's most populous country, whose at-times eye-popping diversity is built from 220 million people and hundreds of languages and ethnic groups. The trick is getting them exposure -- to allow new artists "to be able to live, earn, have a career", Akerele said. - 'Potent' culture - +234 isn't a bad deal for collectors either -- allowing amateurs to snag works for as low as 100,000 naira ($64), while still leaving space for those willing to spend on higher-priced works fetching up to four million naira. Amid the sea of painters, sculptures and photographers at +234 -- named after Nigeria's country calling code -- gallery owners and seasoned buyers are also on the prowl, hoping to find the next undiscovered talent who could break through on the world stage. For 29-year-old artist Abiodun Bodunrin, who works under the name "Peniel", the fair has not only been a chance to get his paintings in front of more people, but also to figure out who is who in a hard-to-enter scene. "My main aim for the fair was to expand my network, to get more eyes to see my art, to meet patrons," he told AFP, as he displayed black-and-white paintings inspired by African symbolism. "In a year or two from now, I want to be able to show my art in the biggest museums around the world." The way collector, architect and +234 attendee Kelechi Odu sees it, the fair not only allows up-and-coming artists to present their own work, but also to be exposed to others. "And that dialogue is what produces ecosystems of culture that become potent," he said. But the impact of Nigeria's current economy -- at its worst in three decades as the country grinds through a cost-of-living crisis -- is hard to ignore. Buyers are "becoming more specific and more targeted", he said. "You don't make choices that are casual." - Cultural hub - For the artists themselves, a certain resilience, rather than "gloom", is reflected in their work, said collector and gallery owner Ugoma Ebilah. "What you see in the visual expressions, across forms, sculpture, painting, photography, music, is essentially a portrait of a people -- a people who are deeply resilient, highly innovative and creative, in spite of it all," she said. Modern Nigerian artists have been on the rise since the 1980s and 1990s, when scattered across the diaspora wanted their homes "to reflect who they are and their culture," said Nkiru Nzegwu, a professor of African studies at Binghamton University, in the United States. A vast economy at home has also meant plenty of domestic buyers, helping turn Lagos into a cultural hub for artists across West Africa. That includes Keshiro, the gallerist. She can't stop thinking about a sculpture that caught her eye. "I'm trying to see how I can acquire that before anybody buys it," she said. fvl/nro/giv
Zawya
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Zawya
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) Joins Ecobank and Soto Gallery for 2nd edition of the +234Art Fair to elevate African art and empower artists
Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) ( the leading infrastructure solutions provider in Africa, has announced its support for the +234Art Fair, coming on as partners for the second year in a row. This aligns with the Corporation's commitment to empowering and elevating the continent's youth, with more than 260 young artists expressing interest in exhibiting their works at the second edition of the international art fair, organized by Soto Gallery in collaboration with Ecobank Nigeria Limited, AFC and Craneburg Construction Company. This meticulously curated five-day event, titled "Championing Patronage in Nigerian Art," will feature the works of emerging and un-galleried artists. The fair will run from March 27th to March 31st at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, located at 270B1, Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, starting daily at 10:00 AM. Samaila Zubairu, President&CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation, stated, 'The +234Art Fair aligns with AFC's advocacy strategy of empowering and elevating Africa's youthful population, thereby fostering job creation, skills development, value retention and rapid economic growth. We are proud to continue our collaboration with Ecobank to help drive Africa's creative industry forward by creating a catalyst for promoting African art and artists locally and on the global stage.' Bolaji Lawal, Managing Director and Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, shared, 'As a Pan-African bank, this fair is an important initiative in our commitment to economic growth and investing in Africa's next generation of talent. It offers emerging artists a unique opportunity to showcase their works to key decision-makers, influencers, and a global audience.' Mrs. Tola Akerele, Founder of +234 Art Fair and Soto Gallery Foundation, emphasized, 'Patronage in the art world goes beyond financial support; it's about building relationships that allow artists to grow and sustain their creative practices. The 2025 edition of the +234 Art Fair aims to show how meaningful support can impact an artist's journey and the broader art ecosystem, fostering essential connections along the way.' The +234 Art Fair celebrates the dynamic talents of Nigeria's emerging artists, offering them a vital platform to share their work with a broader audience. Visitors will experience a wide range of artistic expressions, including painting, sculpture, visual and digital art, installations, and more. The fair will also feature interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking opportunities for artists, art enthusiasts, and key stakeholders in the creative sector. The event is expected to draw a diverse group of attendees, including Nigerians, Africans, international residents, government officials, policymakers, diplomats, and global art lovers. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). Media Enquiries: Yewande Thorpe Communications Africa Finance Corporation Mobile: +234 1 279 9654 Email: About AFC: AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC's approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa's infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth. Seventeen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.
