Vantage Point 13 Turns the Lens on Identity and Memory

By Udemma Chukwuma

(Visitors explore an exhibition at the Sharjah Art Foundation, where Vantage Point 13 opens on 8 August 2026 at the Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sharjah Art Foundation.)

Photography has always documented the world. Increasingly, however, it is also questioning it. Moving beyond straightforward record-keeping, it now probes identity, belonging and the tangled realities of modern life. That shift lies at the heart of Vantage Point 13, opening on 8 August 2026 at the Sharjah Art Foundation's Photography Gallery in Al Manakh, where it will remain on view until 29 November 2026.

Now in its thirteenth edition, Vantage Point brings together six internationally recognised photographers, Maheder Haileselassie, Adam Rouhana, Guanyu Xu, Latifa AlBokhari, Luisa Dörr and Sathish Kumar, each presenting a newly commissioned body of work. This year's exhibition also marks an important milestone as it becomes the first edition of Vantage Point to be presented in the Foundation's dedicated Photography Gallery, reaffirming photography's central place within its contemporary art programme.

Rather than presenting photography as objective evidence, the exhibition considers the medium as a space where memory, identity and perception are continually negotiated. Through distinct visual approaches, the participating artists examine the ways images shape personal histories, cultural narratives and collective memory. The inclusion of Ethiopian photographer Maheder Haileselassie also highlights the growing visibility of African voices within major international photography exhibitions, adding an important continental perspective to the wider conversation.

Curated by Sara Al Mheiri, Assistant Curator, and Osemudiamen Ekore, Curatorial Assistant, the exhibition reflects the Sharjah Art Foundation's commitment to presenting ambitious contemporary art projects that encourage cross-cultural dialogue. Over the years, the Foundation has become one of the Middle East's leading contemporary art institutions, recognised for its exhibitions, commissions and educational programmes that connect artists from the Arab world, Africa, Asia and beyond.

More than a showcase of compelling photographs, Vantage Point 13 invites visitors to reconsider the role of photography in an age of rapid social and technological change. Instead of offering definitive answers, the exhibition encourages audiences to reflect on how images influence memory, construct identity and shape the stories societies tell about themselves.

For photographers, curators, collectors and lovers of contemporary art, the exhibition promises an engaging encounter with some of today's most thoughtful photographic practices. As conversations around visual culture continue to evolve, Vantage Point 13 demonstrates that photography remains not only a powerful means of documentation but also an essential tool for reflection, interpretation and cultural exchange.

How Lagos Quietly Became Africa’s New Art Powerhouse

By Udemma Chukwuma

A visitor engages with an immersive installation during an ART X Lagos programme, reflecting Lagos' growing reputation as a leading centre for contemporary African art. Image Courtesy: ART X Lagos.

Everyone knows Lagos as the city that never stops moving; the markets, the traffic, the business deals, the conversations and the unmistakable energy of a place constantly reinventing itself. But beyond the familiar image of Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial capital is another story unfolding: the rise of a city that has become one of Africa’s most exciting destinations for contemporary art.

Step into the right gallery on a weekend evening, and you discover a different Lagos. Artists gather around new exhibitions, collectors search for the next important voice, curators create conversations around ideas and identities, and audiences encounter artworks that reflect the complexity of modern African life.

Lagos is no longer simply participating in the global art conversation. It is becoming one of the places helping to shape it.

Signature Beyond Art Gallery Opens Call for Entries for SOGAL 2026 Modern & Contemporary Art Auction

By Chioma Orji

Visual artists across Nigeria and beyond have been invited to submit works for the highly anticipated SOGAL 2026 Modern and  Contemporary Art Auction, as Signature Beyond Art Gallery officially opens its call for entries.

The gallery is seeking outstanding artworks from emerging and established visual artists for inclusion in the 2026 edition of its auction, an initiative designed to connect artists with collectors, galleries, curators and art enthusiasts while expanding opportunities within the contemporary art market.

According to the announcement, submissions will remain open until September 15, 2026, giving artists ample time to present works that reflect originality, technical excellence and creative vision.

The annual auction is expected to provide a platform for artists to showcase their works before a diverse audience of collectors and industry stakeholders, while also fostering visibility and commercial opportunities within Nigeria's growing art ecosystem.

Interested artists are required to submit their entries via signaturebeyond01@gmail.com. 

With the theme of "Showcase. Connect. Collect.", the SOGAL 2026 Modern & Contemporary Art Auction aims to celebrate artistic innovation and strengthen the relationship between artists and the art market.

As the submission deadline approaches, artists are encouraged to seize the opportunity to have their works featured in what promises to be one of the notable art auction events of 2026.

Veteran Nollywood Actress Ngozi Nwosu Appeals for ₦30 Million for Life-Saving Surgeries

Veteran Nollywood actress Ngozi Nwosu has made an emotional appeal for public support after revealing that she is battling a serious health condition that requires urgent life-saving surgeries.

In a heartfelt video shared on her Instagram page from her hospital bed, the acclaimed actress disclosed that she has been hospitalised for the past three weeks and is preparing to undergo three surgeries. Fighting back tears, she pleaded with fans, friends, family and colleagues not to abandon her during one of the most difficult moments of her life.

"My people, my fans and my family... I have been hospitalised now for three weeks. The thing has gone beyond my control. I need your help. Don't let me die," she said in the emotional appeal, adding that she is enduring severe pain and requires urgent medical intervention.

Alongside the video, Nwosu shared a written appeal asking supporters to assist or help spread her message. According to the post, she requires ₦30 million to cover the cost of the three surgeries. While she did not disclose the nature of her illness, she directed prospective donors to contact her management team for further details.

The appeal has sparked an outpouring of prayers and support across social media, with fans and colleagues expressing hope for her recovery and encouraging others to contribute to her treatment.

Ngozi Nwosu is one of Nigeria's most respected screen veterans, with a career spanning decades in film and television. She is widely celebrated for memorable roles in productions such as Ripples, Living in Bondage, and the popular sitcom Fuji House of Commotion, where her portrayal of "Peace" endeared her to audiences nationwide.

This is not the first time the actress has faced a major health challenge. In 2012, she publicly sought assistance after battling kidney-related complications and a heart condition before receiving treatment abroad.

As messages of encouragement continue to pour in, many in the Nigerian entertainment industry and beyond are hoping the beloved actress receives the medical care she urgently needs and makes a full recovery.

In her official appeal, Ngozi Nwosu provided the following donation details for those who wish to support her medical treatment:

Account Name: Nwosu Ngozi Mary
Bank: Moniepoint Microfinance Bank (MFB)
Account Number: 6955527149

Sculptures Speak in Matt Ehizele's "Udu Ematon"

By Udemma Chukwuma

Works on view at Udu Ematon (The Heart of Steel) reveal Matt Ehizele's mastery of welded steel, where industrial materials are reimagined as sculptures 

Walking into Matt Ehizele’s solo art exhibition titled Udu Ematon (The Heart of Steel), at the National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria, visitors are immediately greeted by sculptures that command attention without overwhelming the space. The gallery becomes a landscape of towering figures, playful abstractions and expressive wall-mounted reliefs, each inviting close inspection.

And there is something profoundly transformative about Ehizele's works. The sculptor demonstrates that steel is far more than an industrial material; it is a language through which stories of identity, family, culture and emotions can be told.