J.D Ojeikere’s unseen works on present in Lagos

Best recognized for his photos of extravagant, nearly sculptural, girls’s hairstyles, the work of the late Nigerian photographer J.D. ‘Okhai Ojeikere has been exhibited all over the world. But in a 2014 documentary on his life, he mentioned his artwork was not celebrated in his residence nation. That is perhaps altering.

Recently, 150 pictures from his archives, most of which hadn’t been publicly exhibited earlier than, had been the main target of a particular exhibition at certainly one of Africa’s premier artwork festivals, 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 pictures 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 method to pictures as poetry, she mentioned, “the best way he noticed the world and the way he remodeled that notion into a picture is sort of exceptional. He understood visible area, whether or not it was an out of doors or indoor setting, and the way kinds maintain area.

“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 yr, 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 hundreds of artists, galleries, artwork lovers and collectors from internationally. Peterside-Schwebig says this yr 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 speculate extra deeply in youthful generations.

Ojeikere, who died in 2014, documented Nigerian structure, individuals and tradition for over 60 years, together with his most acknowledged work being the acclaimed “Hairstyles” sequence. Libsekal mentioned the photographer was saddened that his work was nicely obtained 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 pictures from his early profession, pageant pictures and a spread of portraits, in addition to new photos from the “Hairstyle” sequence, and pictures of Lagos’ structure, shoreline and port, from the Nineteen Fifties to the 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 apply, 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 hundreds of pictures and negatives nonetheless within the archive, Amaize mentioned there are plans to construct establishments that can enable the work to be considered by a wider viewers for years to return.

“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 choice of Ojeikere’s work from the ART X Icon exhibition will probably be displayed on the Federal Palace Hotel foyer till the top of November.