For the 2019 edition, ART X Lagos undertakes several major changes in order to fulfil its commitment to providing a truly unique cultural and lifestyle experience for a wide variety of audiences, both locally and internationally.

Under the curatorial theme, ​Art in Life | Life through Art, ART X Lagos presents a wide non-gallery programme: Curated Projects, the Performance Pavilion, and the Interactive Projects. The theme investigates how art and creativity influences and enriches our daily lives – whether socially, aesthetically, economically or intellectually.

Access Bank ART X Prize

The Access Bank ART X Prize , a platform designed to support emerging artists in Nigeria, has reached its final stage for the 2019 edition. Following a rigorous screening process by the jury, formed of Ibrahim Mahama, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Emeka Ogboh, Zina Saro-Wiwa, and Alessio Antoniolli (Director of Gasworks), five finalists have been selected: Ayomitunde Adeleke, Etinosa Yvonne, Christopher Nelson Obuh, Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Peter Ebahi Okotor who will all exhibit in the Access Bank ART X Prize section of the fair in November.

On Thursday 12th September, self-taught documentary photographer, Etinosa Yvonne, emerged as the winner of the Prize, who will win a cash grant of N 1,500,000, a three-month residency at Gasworks, London, in 2020 , and a solo presentation at ART X Lagos in 2020.

The 2019 Full Programme

The Curated Projects return to the fair this year, presenting four exhibitions incorporating augmented reality, virtual reality, sound, installation, and film, enriching the viewers’ experience by expanding beyond the gallery booth format. Curated by the Fair’s Artistic Director, Tayo Ogunbiyi , this section will showcase artists both established and emerging, such as Emeka Ogboh , Joel Benson , Oumar Ball , Amanda Iheme , Nyancho Nwanri , and Ifebusola Shotunde .

Curated by artist Wura-Natasha Ogunji , The Performance Art Pavilion will feature a series of performances exploring the connection between art and ethics. Titled Small Acts, this section will comprise of three live performances by Nigerian artists Ngozi Schommers , Eca Eps , and Taiwo Aiyedogbon , developed specifically for ART X Lagos.

The fair’s highly sought after Talks Programme, ART X Talks , returns on Saturday 2nd November and Sunday 3rd November. This year ART X Talks seeks to offer arrayed considerations of the ways in which people live in and through visual art. Speakers this year include artist Emeka Ogboh, Antawan Byrd , Associate Curator at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Senegalese gallerist and designer, Aissa Dionne , as well as celebrated curator and art critic, N’Goné Fall, who will reflect on the career and accomplishments of the late Bisi Silva.

This year, the Interactive Projects at ART X Lagos present art installations encouraging audience participation and alternative forms of artistic expression, curated by A Whitespace Creative Agency and exploring the theme of PLAY. Works featured include a collaboration between product designer Nifemi Marcus-Bello , creative technologist Desiree Craig and artist Deborah Segun , exploring the act of wishing, nostalgia and childhood through a virtual wishing fountain, and an interactive textile installation created in collaboration by artist Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu and fashion designer Bubu Ogisi . The Interactive Projects will be presented by 7UP.

In line with the past three editions of the fair, the penultimate night of ART X Lagos will again play host to ART X Live! , the fair’s one-night-only dynamic visual art and live music show. Curated by Lanre Masha (Music) and Faridah Folawiyo (Art), this year the show will celebrate some of Lagos’ most exciting emerging and underground mavericks. Artists who do what they like, with influences from all over, who don’t care to fit into boxes or classifications. The show, titled Making the Maverick will feature new commissions by visual artists Dafe Oboro and Joy Matashi, with live performances from WurlD, Lady Donli and Buju, with all music produced by TMXO.

.

ART X Lagos takes place from Friday 1 November to Sunday 3 November 2019. Read more HERE