On Monday, October 21, 2024, ARTSPLIT, a leading African art trading platform, dedicated to promoting modern and contemporary African art to a global audience, launched a private art gallery known as 202 Gallery in Ikoyi Lagos.
202 Gallery opened with an inaugural exhibition themed, ‘Vessels’. The exhibition which runs till December 13, 2024, features 37 stunning works, including paintings, drawings, and sculptures by eight emerging artists from Nigeria and Ghana.
The ‘Vessels’, thoughtfully curated by Majid Biggar, explores themes of identity, spirituality, culture, and the human experience. It showcases fresh perspectives from Adeniyi Adewole, Gedepresunpre Agorsor, Igbobinna Eze, Israel Fatola, Yewande Ambeke, James Adebayo, Joseph Oluwasegun, and Mubaraq Yusuf.
The artists’ efforts towards the preservation of Africa’s cultural heritages is seen in the works on display, as they infuse fresh perspectives into some of these waning cultures.
For instance, the Yoruba tribal marks are employed to produce trendy designs especially in the drawings.
Adeniyi Adewole’s compelling fibreglass sculptures are rooted in African spirituality and cosmology. Adeniyi is very intentional about colour tones that represent emotions, while reflecting on the strength of the human spirit and the importance of community ties. One of his works is titled, “Hybrid Harmony” (Aluminum shavings and resin), shows a sculpture head of a young lad produced this 2024.
Igbobinna Eze, Israel Fatola, and Yewande Ambeke blend figuration and abstraction to examine the complexities of human connections, emotions, cultural identity, and the evolving nature of existence. In an untitled series, Ambeke paints male and female figures portraying the union between a man and woman speaking eloquently of human connections.
On his part, Mubaraq, the youngest but most exposed artist who has showcased his works in international exhibitions, basically looks beyond the physical. In the body of work with titles like “When Dust Settles” (oil on canvas), Mubaraq paints faceless figures wrapped round in bright multi colours, which project the message that people should not be judged by their physical appearances.
Artist Igbobinna Eze’s work shows how much he is inspired by artists like Uche Okeke with much influence by the Uli design. This evidently portrays his dedication to keeping that culture flowing at a time we hardly see such designs in works of new artists.
While James Adebayo’s work on the other hand, is influenced by his experience of double vision, offering a distinctive interpretation of the world, Joseph Oluwasegun fuses traditional and digital techniques to explore identity, purpose, and self-acceptance themes. Meanwhile, Mubaraq Yusuf and Gedepresunpre Agorsor draw inspiration from African history and expressions of identity, celebrating the resilience and beauty of the African spirit.
Majid Biggar, the 202 Gallery Manager, said the opening of 202 Gallery marks a significant moment for Nigeria’s art scene as it offers a dynamic space for artistic expression and cultural exchange.
According to him, “This exhibition is not just a display of individual talent; it reflects the mission of 202 Gallery—to provide a platform for emerging and underrepresented artists while connecting them with a global audience.”
Biggar further explained that “202 Gallery by ARTSPLIT is a private art gallery and advisory service offering rotating thematic exhibitions and dynamic programming throughout the year. It will continue to feature the finest contemporary artists from Africa. “Our advisory services help corporate and private clients build, document, and manage art collections while offering expert advice on art investment and appraisals.”
