Kokopelli Art Gallery Presents Ronke Komos’ ‘What Endures, What Fades’

Ferdinand  Ekechukwu

In an evocative solo exhibition that invites viewers to reflect on the customs, trends and cultural memories that shape communal identity, Kokopelli Art Gallery, Lagos, will be debuting “What Endures, What Fades” by Ronke Komos.

This body of work navigates the tension between preservation and transformation, nostalgia and, more importantly, evolution in a time of constant flux. The exhibition, which kicked off 11th May, will run daily till June 13th, 2025.

Komos explores the delicate balance between continuity and change, questioning how customs, fashion, and cultural identity evolve across generations. ‘What Endures, What Fades’ is not only an exhibition; it is a space for remembrance, redefinition and renewal.

Drawing from her archive of photographs, she revives and reimagines visual fragments of history, creating a poignant dialogue between collective memory and individual identity through a series of vibrant, mixed-media works.

The exhibition delves into the fluidity of tradition, why certain elements endure while others fade into distant recollection. Pieces like Box TV – “Apoti Fedeko Age” and “Village Christmas Age” speak to familial nostalgia, while “Kori-Kosun, 5&6 Age” contemplates the shifting dynamics of friendship and community in a digitally connected world. 

“Fashion becomes both subject and storytelling device,” the Gallery explains. “The “Peperempe Age” celebrates bold self-expression across time; The “Aso-Ofi Age transforms woven heritage into sleek contemporary form, and The “Handmade Hat Age” reimagines cultural pride through the changing symbolism of church fashion.

“Komos’ work resonates with themes of memory, presence and absence, inviting viewers to reflect on the emotional landscapes that shape identity. Her pieces do not provide definitive answers; they open a space for conversation: How do we preserve traditions without stagnation? How do we adapt them without erasure and ultimately, what truly endures, and what fades?”