“The Philosopher’s Muse: An alternate art Exhibition” (A belated review)

Last Easter was an exciting one for art lovers in Lagos with the recently concluded art exhibition “The Philosopher’s Muse: An alternative Art Exhibition” which opened on Saturday, 26^th march 2016 and closed on the 2^nd of April 2016 last weekend. The opening brought in roughly 200 to 300 art lovers from across Lagos to “The Gallery” @ Blue Mahogany, an initiative by Blue Mahogany to showcase the artists in the growing contemporary arts scene in Nigeria. 

The event drew 53 extra which came to cover the event to interview some of the artists and had a mix of veteran exhibition attendees and a few who are new to the art and design scene

The event was opened by AyoolaGbolahan and featured budding young contemporary artists to more experienced creatives. A few notable pieces which appeared to be attendees favorites were the graphic fashion illustrative style of Francis Sule who produced two works titled Drug, Sex and Alcohol an illustration of the dangers of the fashion world in a style that is both dangerous edgy and full of raw sexual magnetism and a portrait of the Lagos based Photographer Yagamezi titled Yagazi. Twin Paintings by OlajumokeLateef were also one of the crowd favorites, being noted that Olajumoke has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Africa as well as in the art TwentyOne gallery. Other artitsts who exhibited were Sadiq Williams, YacoubAdeleke, AzubuikeOnonye of the “cardiac series”, Stacey Okparavvero, Morountodun Obaigbo, YadichinmaUkoha-Kalu, OlufemiArogundade, OlusayoAjetumobi, AdeboroOdunlami, Namang Blackie, Marcia Mar, Crystal Deroche, and Metal Designer Sam Ukweku.

Some notable figures at the exhibition were Jeffery Akoh, OmonMordi, Ada Umeofia and a few regulars at everyone’s favorite underground hipster scene Stranger Lagos. 

At the end of the day, the event felt upbeat and exciting and all the attendees seemed to have a good time and experienced an art exhibition in a vibey alternative way. The major goal behind the event in many ways was to say, art exhibitions can be fun and exciting.

The exhibition was an initiative of Morountodun Obaigbo and Sadiq Williams, who got the opportunity from Blue Mahogany to use the space and used this opportunity to add to the budding contemporary art scene in the form of this exhibition. “If you get an opportunity to do something significant, why shouldn’t you share that opportunity with the world.”

See Pictures below