‘Unfurling’ mother and child
It did not come as a surprise to people who are familiar with the going-ons in the local visual art scene. For some months now, Sandra Mbanefo- Obiago has been actively involved in curating exhibitions in the city of Lagos. So when she announced to open her own exhibition alongside her daughter, Amara Obiago, it wasn’t a surprise. Their exhibition titiled ‘Unfurling’, is a unique collection of 42 photographs and poems by mother and child.
Mbanefo-Obiago a multi-faceted writer, photographer and a curator of visual art at the Wheatbaker Hotel and her daughter, Amara, a first year International Affairs university student with a deep passion for photography, join forces to exhibit their works at the Wheatbaker Hotel, Onitolo Road, Ikoyi from June 9th to August 30th this year.
The exhibition is a diverse collection of images presented on large canvases and aluminum dibond plates, depicting expressions, patterns and textures in landscape, nature, cloth, as well as light filled architectural spaces.
Obiago said that the photographs and the poetry are created as a process of revealing what is in the inside, which is a joint exhibition, looking at life from the point of view of an 18-year-old child and her mother who is 50.
According to her: “In the photographic debut, we both feature poetry alongside our work, which touches on self-discovery, inquiry and adventure. They illustrate global themes of humanity’s search for meaning through space, light, natural and man-made patterns, illustrating various states of Unfurling, a visual and philosophical opening and release.”
She also explained that ‘Unfurling’ is an expression of both artists’ exploration of how thought, memory and meaning can be reflected through everyday objects within everyone’s reach- a piece of cloth, a solitary corridor, a child’s laugh, or a curled up leaf, adding that it is an attempt by both to reflect an ebb and flow of life from different generational vantage points, always seeking artistic truth.
“‘Unfurling’ is a bold step for me, sharing my artistic heart in a new way, revealing my words which I weave together when I retreat. My poems are my most spiritual and subjective expressions, letting go of my activism, releasing my critical curating and forgetting my editorial pen,” Obiago said.
Amara had her own side of the story as she disclosed that this is her first exhibition, which sponsored by Ruinart, the world’s oldest established Champagne house, the Global Energy Group, a leading Nigerian corporate art patron and the Wheatbaker, a boutique hotel committed to celebrating the best of Nigerian creativity.
“Photography is accessible to everyone,” Amara explained, “but it is not about the equipment but the set eyes that makes the difference, enabling you to pick out the distinct moment, making it your own and showing it to the world.
“Taking the photograph, at the right time, in the right place and at the right moment is the challenge that needs to be addressed.”
She further revealed that she started taking photos at the age of eight and her portfolio is made up of images she took with diverse cameras, including her first Sony Erricsson phone presenting the world through a daring and bold youthful prism.
Some of the photographs on display includes: ‘Ka anyi bidoo’ meaning Let’s start, ‘City Dreams’, ‘Repopulate’, ‘Hope’ and so many other historical piece conveying the message of women empowerment, a feel of nature, a ray of hope, unraveling of opportunities, and taking charge of situations amongst others which inspires the viewers.
IFEOMA OKEKE