For its huge collections of artifacts, regular exhibitions and art materials for research, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art (YSMA) of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, is a must-visit for lovers of art, collectors and art scholars.
If you have visited the museum before to see an exhibition, there is a reason to visit again.
This time, the museum is generously opening its doors to the public for a very unique exhibition, probably the anticipated exhibition of the year.
Tagged ‘AREWA?’, the upcoming art exhibition explores the arts of Nigeria’s northern region, amid unveiling the region’s beauties and creative ingenuity of its artists.
The exhibition, which opens on July 8, 2024 at the YSMA, will be curated by Aisha Aliyu-Bima, a writer, photographer, researcher, and activist with keen interest in Northern Nigeria social anthropology
It will feature works by about 40 artists including; Jerry Buhari, Jimoh Akolo, Fati Abubakar, Williams Chechet, Aisha Augie, Blaise Gundu Gbaden, Imran Tilde, Dhlimi Munza, Tonie Okpe, Kaltume Gana, among others.
As well, the exhibition holds lots of promise for the exhibiting artists and visitors alike because of the historical and cultural relevance of Northern Nigeria, which it spotlights.
The region, commonly regarded as a homogenous entity, is multi-layered with rich arts and cultures that attest to the creativity and innovation of its peoples.
Hence, the exhibition showcases the artistic and cultural diversity of Northern Nigeria, celebrating and highlighting the invaluable contributions of its artists to the wider Nigerian arts scene.
Moreover, the exhibition offers a nuanced tour of the Northern region, exploring its modern history, evolving physical and socio-cultural landscape, identities and its significance within the broader Nigerian and African discourse.
The exhibition also offers Aisha Aliyu-Bima, the curator, the opportunity to review works on display, while the artists have a platform to express themselves through their works.
“It is a privilege to put together this exhibition that explores the stories and practice of contemporary artistic practitioners from the North. It invites viewers to look deeply into the works, and I think they will find many points of commonality and wonderful stories. While this exhibit focuses on Northern Nigeria, it also seeks to create more pipelines between the art practitioners in the North and the mainstream art space in Nigeria, Africa and beyond; and to bring important issues like cultural preservation in an ever-evolving world to the fore,” Aliyu-Bima explained during a media parley at the Goethe Institut, Victoria Island Lagos, which heralded the exhibition.
Also speaking at the media parley, Jess Castellote, director, YSMA, noted that the exhibition is unique in the sense of the region it is exploring, as well as the opportunity it is offering the media and storytellers to spotlight unheard voices and enable them to tell unique stories that will impact the country positively.
On his part, Michael Oseghale, manager of the Shyllon Museum, noted that, “With the support of Africa No Filter, we are glad to show AREWA? to our audiences, especially in our nation’s current socio-cultural climate. The YSMA seeks to advance knowledge about a diverse range of topics through art, and with AREWA?, we are not only able to contribute to learning, but also to nation-building. These opportunities to positively impact the society we are situated in are what justify our mission as a museum”.
He believes that with about 80 artworks in the exhibition lineup, the showcase will bring together generations of artists, as well as a variety of subjects and identities, with the goal of engaging viewers beyond perpetuated stereotypes and cliched narratives about Northern Nigeria.
Explaining the rationale for funding the exhibition, Francios Bouda, Art and Culture Program officer at Africa No Filter, said that the AREWA? Project is a unique initiative that highlights contrompary northern Nigerian artists and local artisans, as well as empowering change makers such as curators, journalists and teachers, whose work is crucial in shaping public opinion and narratives.
He expressed delight to partner with the Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art to tell stories about northern Nigeria.
Also expressing the museum’s gratitude to the sponsor, Madonna Iloba, advancement officer at YSMA, reiterated the museum’s interest in the advancement of Nigerian arts and the need for collaborations such as with the Africa No Filter, in order to achieve the goal.
“Our strategy is to engage groups with the potential to influence their respective fields and reach even broader audiences. This is why, in addition to the exhibition itself, we have designed complementary programmes specifically for curators, journalists and teachers,” Iloba said.
To extend its impact, the exhibition will be complemented with workshops for curators, journalists and teachers, featuring panel discussions on the role of art in challenging stereotypes, and the future of arts in Northern Nigeria, as well as advocacy training sessions on better representation.
A comprehensive exhibition catalogue including essays on key issues surrounding the arts and culture in Northern Nigeria will also be published.
AREWA? is made possible by the grant awarded to the YSMA by Africa No Filter, an organisation that supports the development of nuanced and contemporary stories that shift stereotypical and harmful narratives within and about Africa.
Once again, the exhibition opens on July 8, 2024 at the YSMA and will run until October 2024.
