Nigeria Imagin- ary

A CERTAIN SORT OF FREEDOM HAS BEEN LOST.

NIGERIA IMAGINARY INCUBATOR PROJECT

As part of the curatorial research into the Nigeria Pavilion's core themes of nostalgia and utopia, MOWAA presented the Nigeria Imaginary Incubator Project at ART X Lagos 2023. ART X Lagos, founded in 2016, is West Africa's leading international art fair for contemporary African art. In this interactive installation, a range of visitors to ART X, including artists, students, and art enthusiasts were able to interact with these themes through a series of short prompts such as “What does Nigeria taste like?”. This archive of stories, memories, and dreams was used to inform the curation of the Nigeria Pavilion and select perspectives have been featured as part of the installation in the pavilion developed in collaboration with artist Olukemi Lijadu also known a DJ Kem Kem.

LISTEN TO DJ KEM KEM'S MIX

Track 1

Track 2

Track 3

THE COLLOQUIUM

The Colloquium is the common area is space containing historical artifacts, ephemera, and quotidian objects that reflect Nigeria's rich heritage, both past, and present. These items are organized according to cross-sectional themes, which will provide visitors with an immersive experience and offering visual and intellectual support for the overall exhibition.

HOMECOMING ROOM

The Homecoming Room showcases the future intentions of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA), with a focus on its ambitions to build the Rainforest Gallery - exhibition infrastructure that will eventually host the Nigeria Imaginary at home. It also illuminates MOWAA wider campus and initiatives in Benin, Nigeria, and across West Africa.