31 young artists in their early 20s from Africa, USA, UK and Portugal, creating their own world through painting and drawing while interpreting presence in different art genres, have opened a group exhibition at the African Art Foundation (AAF). , Victoria Island, Lagos. The show runs from August 13 to October 1, 2022.
Tagged “Shout Plenty”, it gathers the polyrhythmic voices of a diverse but interconnected continent and its diaspora.
The artists are Blackson Afonso, Sarfo Emmanuel Annor, Nola Ayoola, Samson Bakare, Patrick Bongoy, Nkemka Chinaza, Audrey D’Erneville, Olatoye David, Dodji Efoui, Matthew Eguaveon, Emebiriodo Ugochukwu, Wasiu Eshinlokun, Dan Halter, Chisom Ikeorah “Chi Fada “, Ishaq Ismail, Matt Kayem, Lindokuhle Khumalo, Ayogu Kingsley, Zemba Luzamba, John Madu, Cinthia Sifa Mulanga, Jean David Nkot, Johnson Ocheja, Emma Odumade, Adaeze Okaro, Precious Opara, Esther Onwukamuche, Sandra Seghir, Pierre Segoh, Kenechukwu Victor and Adesola Yusuf.
The show, curated by Princess Ayoola and Jana Terblanche, derives its name from Fela Anikulapo-Kuti’s 1986 LP I Go Shout Plenty.
This show focuses on limitless forms of artistic creation that function as transmitters of social change.
The 100+ artworks capture contemporary visual culture articulated through fashion, media, sound and music. These include painterly expression, photography, textile work, assemblage and relief sculpture. Shout Plenty gives a voice to the inner workings of a diverse artistic school and, by extension, its communities.
Storytelling unites these artists and is useful in bridging cultural and ideological divides. In this way, artistic practice allows play and human imagination to roam outside the confines of perceived reality.
The curators have brought together artists who work across media and convey their intended message with varying degrees of representation and abstraction.
Speaking about the selection process, Ayoola said, “It wasn’t easy because we do this kind of show every year, it was easy to bring the artists together.”
However, he added: “We track these artists over time; So we know what they’re talking about.
“The show is about giving artists a chance to express themselves on the subject they are addressing. Her works are about religion, politics, fashion and other things, so basically her works are related to the topical issue that’s going on, they all say something about what’s happening at this time.”
David said: “I’ve been through a lot in my life and family has been the only pillar. My work speaks of positivity even though there is negativity in the country so I think it’s too much to still talk about negativity so I preach positivity through my work.”
The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) graduate is exhibiting two works.
