Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi invited as guest of honour
Tokini Peterside joined alongside Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and his wife, Queen Morenike Naomi Oluwaseyi; Access Bank Plc CEO, Mr Herbert Wigwe; APC Gubanitorial Aspirant,Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Mo Abudu amongst other important dignitaries
Lagos- 2nd November 2018: ART X Lagos, West Africa’s Premier International Art Fair made a triumphant return for a third consecutive year with over 1,500 VIP guests from across the continent and beyond in attendance. This year’s fair opened with a private VIP Preview during the day, where guests were invited to experience the cutting edge of contemporary African art.
The daytime preview was followed by a VIP Opening Cocktail in the evening, which brought together Royal Dignitaries, leading collectors, and Nigerian VIPs, including Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Hubert Wigwe, Atedo Peterside, Babajide Sanwoolu, Mo Abudu as well as globally renowned artist and ART X Lagos 2018 Keynote Artist, Yinka Shonibare MBE.
With 18 exhibiting galleries from all over the world, and works across many different types of artistic media including virtual reality, guests were able to experience the best of contemporary African art.
Guests also mingled between two exquisite VIP lounges designed by ALARA and textile designer, Banke Kuku.
Following the welcome introduction by ART X Lagos Founder and Director Tokini Peterside, Access Bank Plc CEO Herbert Wigwe also gave a rousing speech on the importance of the fair and its centrality in the growth of Africa’s art economy. Access Bank Plc, the Gold Sponsor of ART X Lagos, have loaned to the fair Ben Enwonwu’s historical ‘Tutu’, 1974, which earlier this year became the most highly valued work of Nigerian modern art ever sold at auction for £1.2 million ($1.67 million).
Thereafter, the night’s guest of honour, Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Akande, was invited to the stage where he delivered a captivating speech to the audience. In his words, Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, stated that, before the advent of photography, the Arts have always been a way of recording and recalling our ancestors.
He added, “We can see this from the display of ‘Tutu’ here today and I can attest to you, that this is one of the greatest records in our history for the entire mankind. That art piece has actually recorded a huge milestone all over the world.”
The public display of ‘Tutu’ at ART X Lagos 2018 marks a hugely significant moment in Nigeria’s art history, as the painting makes its first public display in Nigeria since 1975, when it was last shown in Lagos. With the Ooni of Ife as the fair’s guest of honour, connecting with the rediscovered artwork of his late kinsman, the public display of Tutu carried even greater cultural and historical significance. This moment will certainly remain a landmark moment in Nigerian history, and art history worldwide.
Today, the fair will open its doors to the general public who will be able to view the best of contemporary art from 18 galleries from across Africa and its diaspora. The day is set to feature the highly engaging ART X Talks, with a host of exciting speakers, artists, and thought leaders set to take the stage. ART X Talks will also run on the Sunday where Yinka Shonibare MBE will give a keynote talk.
Saturday night will see the return of ART X Live! the one night only live music and visual art showcase, which will see astounding performances from BOJ, Teni the entertainer and Amaarae who will pay homage to sounds of the past.Saturday tickets for ART X Lagos are no longer available online but can be purchased upon arrival at the Civic Centre. Tickets for Sunday are still available online: click here to purchase.
We look forward to seeing you.
