Best identified for his photos of extravagant, nearly sculptural, ladies’s hairstyles, the work of the late Nigerian photographer J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere has been exhibited around the globe. But in a 2014 documentary on his life, he mentioned his artwork was not celebrated in his dwelling nation. That is likely to be altering.
Recently, 150 images from his archives, most of which hadn’t been publicly exhibited earlier than, had been the main target of a particular exhibition at one among Africa’s premier artwork gala’s, ART X Lagos, in Nigeria.
Titled “An Exacting Eye,” the exhibition, in addition to a masterclass taught by his son Amaize Ojeikere, sought to honor the life and work of one of many nation’s most prolific documentary photographers.
These images are a part of an expansive archive, in response to photographer and archivist Amaize, who mentioned his father had “thousands and thousands of negatives.” The exhibition’s curator, Missla Libsekal, mentioned investigating the largely analog archive required “time and commitment,” reviewing nearly 8,000 photos — a fraction of the trove — in a course of that took a number of months.
Describing Ojeikere’s strategy to pictures as poetry, she mentioned, “the way in which he noticed the world and the way he reworked that notion into a picture is kind of exceptional. He understood visible house, whether or not it was an out of doors or indoor setting, and the way varieties maintain house.
“He translated this into images that enhanced and depicted a particular idea of beauty … It is a talent to make images that keep you engaged and marveling, and that was what he did.”
With ART X Lagos celebrating its tenth 12 months, founder Tokini Peterside-Schwebig mentioned highlighting Ojeikere’s work was about tribute and reconnection. “It is about ensuring our young people know the artists and teachers who shaped our visual language. The masterclass ensures that younger artists not only engage with his techniques and visual language but also understand the cultural lineage they inherit,” she mentioned. “I hope it reawakens cultural memory — that it sparks pride, reflection and recognition,” she added.
ART X Lagos has change into a key occasion in Nigeria’s artwork calendar, attracting 1000’s of artists, galleries, artwork lovers and collectors from the world over. Peterside-Schwebig says this 12 months introduced scale, with a “richer and more layered experience that holds both legacy and experimentation,” in addition to depth, with choices just like the masterclass and extra as a part of their technique to take a position extra deeply in youthful generations.
Ojeikere, who died in 2014, documented Nigerian structure, folks and tradition for over 60 years, together with his most acknowledged work being the acclaimed “Hairstyles” collection. Libsekal mentioned the photographer was saddened that his work was properly acquired internationally however not valued in Nigeria, including that the exhibition, was “bringing his work home and taking one of many steps to remediate that.”
In the exhibition had been images from his early profession, pageant pictures and a variety of portraits, in addition to new photos from the “Hairstyle” collection, and images of Lagos’ structure, shoreline and port, from the Nineteen Fifties to the Nineteen Seventies, capturing life pre- and post-Nigeria’s independence from colonial rule.
Amaize mentioned he hoped to impart classes to the ten masterclass college students about archiving as a follow, but in addition about his father’s tenacity, originality and work ethic.
“It’s very important that different generations are able to preserve what existed in their time for others to see, because there’s so much to learn from the past … so that the present and the future can be better,” he mentioned.
“There’s so much to learn from the impact of his work, the style,” he added. “He lived ahead of his time.”
With tons of of 1000’s of images and negatives nonetheless in the archive, Amaize mentioned there are plans to construct establishments that may permit the work to be considered by a wider viewers for years to come back.
“Not all of the works might ever be released, but the most important thing is that we are creating a situation where people can truly research into the style the works of J.D. Ojeikere.”
A number of Ojeikere’s work from the ART X Icon exhibition will probably be displayed on the Federal Palace Hotel foyer till the tip of November.