The Biennial is curated by
Furen Dai, Chinyere Obieze and Sam Hopkins, who ask a deceptively simple
question: what would a museum look like if it were designed from nothing,
without the inequalities that have long determined whose work is collected and
whose is forgotten? Artists and cultural practitioners from several parts of
the world have been invited to respond, bringing forward histories, objects and
narratives that seldom reach public view.
The idea behind the exhibition
is a conceptual museum of rarely or never exhibited works, drawn from
collections and institutions around the world. Contemporary artists are invited
to respond to these works and question the stories attached to them, while
examining why such pieces have remained out of sight in the first place.
Factors such as cultural bias, financial power and political influence can
shape which art is celebrated and which is left in storage.
The Biennial has grown into one
of the continent's critically engaged contemporary art platforms since it began
in 2017, according to Art Africa. Earlier editions took over historically
significant sites in Lagos, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation
building, Independence House and Tafawa Balewa Square, and together they have
featured more than 200 artists from across the globe.
This year's edition also marks
the first public presentation of the Àkéte Collection, described as a
pioneering public international art collection in Africa. The Biennial is
organised by the Àkéte Art Foundation, an artist-led, non-profit organisation
that operates independently of government or large institutional funding.
For three weeks, visitors can
move through installations and performances and take part in conversations
about how museums tell stories and who gets to tell them. An international
colloquium bringing together museum professionals, academics and art historians
is also planned, with discussions on museology and cultural restitution.
International participation
adds another dimension to the theme of unseen histories. The European Union is
supporting Ukraine's presence at the Biennial through Home Beyond the Dawn; the installation will bring Ukrainian artistic perspectives to Lagos audiences and
speak to endangered cultural memory.
For anyone in Lagos this season, or planning a trip to the city, the Biennial offers more than a calendar date. It invites audiences to question what they have been taught to see and to notice what has been left out. Programme details are available through the Lagos Biennial's website and social media channels.
Images courtesy of the organisers. All rights reserved.
© Arts and Culture Place
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