Artsdiscourse

Nine Year Old Bride, Peju Alatise, Mixed Media. Image credit: Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art.   Mathew Oyedele In recent time, there have been lots of questions around the role, aim and objective of museums; as some museums around the world are either filled with stolen, looted or illegally acquired objects. There have been calls and agitations for restitution, particularly of African objects by historians, critics and art enthusiasts to African countries who are the real owners of these objects. In 2018, Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr and French historian Benedicte Savoy released a study that calls for the restitution of Africa's looted assets and the study sparked debates among European and African art enthusiasts.   It was in this timely moment that the Museum of Black Civilizations opened in Dakar, Senegal with the aim of educating and exposing visitors to the role of art from Africa and its contribution to global civilization. In the same period, the Lagos artworld witne...

Mathew Oyedele Mural, painting and installation section of the exhibition space. Image credit: Tobi Animashaun. Despite the commercialisation and commodification of art in Lagos, the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, continues to stage critical, experiential and experimental art to contribute to the development and professionalisation of artistic production in Nigeria. Founded by the late independent curator, Bisi Silva in 2007, the Centre prides itself in its library which houses huge collection of books, journals, manuscripts, catalogues and monographs for research as well as collaboration with African and international artists, curators and organisations.  The recent exhibition by Tobi Animashaun which employs the fusion of sound, mural, installation and painting in a critical and experiential presentation, explore Nigerian history through maps and street names. The show, themed "Akomona" and curated by Michael Enejison is the first exhibition of the Centre in 2021.  Tob...