feature: hundreds of art lovers attend ‘the philosopher’s muse: an alternative art exhibition’ at blue mahogany in lagos

The event drew 53 extra which came to cover the event to interview some of the artists and had a mix of veteran exhibition attendees and a few who are new to the art and design scene.

The event was opened by Ayoola Gbolahan and featured budding young contemporary artists to more experienced creatives. A few notable pieces which appeared to be attendees favorites as well as mine were the graphic fashion illustrative style of Francis Sule who produced two works titled Drug, Sex and Alcohol an illustration of the dangers of the fashion world in a style that is both dangerous edgy and full of raw sexual magnetism and a portrait of the Lagos based Photographer Yagamezi titled Yagazi. Twin Paintings by Olajumoke Lateef were also one of the crowd favorites, being noted that Olajumoke has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Africa as well as in the art TwentyOne gallery. Other artists who exhibited were Sadiq Williams, Yacoub Adeleke, Azubuike Ononye of the “cardiac series”, Stacey Okparavvero, Morountodun Obaigbo, Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu, Olufemi Arogundade, Olusayo Ajetumobi, Adeboro Odunlami, Namang Blackie, Marcia Mar, Crystal Deroche, and Metal Designer Sam Ukweku.

Some notable figures at the exhibition were Jeffery Akoh, Omon Mordi, Ada Umeofia and a few regulars at everyone’s favorite underground hipster scene Stranger Lagos.

At the end of the day, the event felt upbeat and exciting and all the attendees seemed to have a good time and experienced an art exhibition in a vibey alternative way. The major goal behind the event in many ways was to say, art exhibitions can be fun and exciting.

The exhibition was creative directed by me Morountodun Obaigbo, managed by Sadiq Williams and developed by Uyino Ehirehmen, my friend who is an art enthusiast and psychologist in training, Ngozikar Ezeugo who did most of the PR and Tarere Obaigbo who was in charge of sales and sponsorship and a number of others. I was lucky to get an opportunity from Blue Mahogany to exhibit my first product design project post-graduation which were a number of contemporary design fashion smoking pipes in their space and I used the opportunity to involve other contemporaries like myself to put on an exciting and interesting art event.

I always believe that if you get an opportunity to do something significant, you should probably share that opportunity with others. Of course there are things we could have done better, but we look forward to better projects and making significant change in the African Art community.

By Morountodun Obaigbo, AFROPUNK contributor