Archives and Memories – Group Show

On the 12th of February 2025, The Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, presents Archives and Memories, a group exhibition featuring works by prominent Nigerian artists; Ndidi Dike, Ngozi-Omeje Ezema, Odun Orimolade, Taiye Idahor, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, and Wura-Natasha Ogunji. The exhibition opens on the 6th anniversary of the passing of its founder, Bisi Silva.

The exhibition features artists whose practices intersect with Bisi Silva’s curatorial archive. Drawing from her curatorial projects between 2008 and 2018, Archives and Memories reactivates works that explore themes of migration, identity, colonialism, patriarchy, and cultural preservation, offering fresh perspectives on their relevance today. Through archival materials, personal histories, and artworks, Archives and Memories interrogates the interplay of personal and collective memory, examining how memory is revisited, reconstructed, and transformed over time.

Ndidi Dike reimagines historical trauma and displacement, while Odun Orimolade critiques colonial histories through theatrical interventions. Taiye Idahor explores personal and artistic growth, and Wura-Natasha Ogunji’s performances explore the presence of women in public space; these often include investigations of labour, leisure, freedom, and frivolity. Temitayo Ogunbiyi reinterprets local histories and materials for civic engagement, and Ngozi-Omeje Ezema delves into mourning and remembrance, using the elephant as a metaphor for loss.

The 12th of February will be a significant moment in our institution’s history. We will be coming together to celebrate Bisi Silva’s pioneering contributions to contemporary art in Africa and her unwavering commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly women artists while continuing her legacy of critical dialogue and artistic innovation,” says Oyindamola Faithful, Executive and Artistic Director of CCA, Lagos.

The exhibition will run from 12 February through 31 May 2025.

ccalagos.org