Ferdinand Ekechukwu
This is good news for Lagos, the city of aquatic splendor, going by the inspiring title ‘Greener Pastures’, iconic photographer, actor and artist, Bolaji Alonge has captured succinctly the theme of his exhibition which explores the challenges affecting remote areas of the state and its dwellers. The 10-day exhibition, which brings together photography, video documentary and painting, is to a certain extent a clarion call to address the challenges faced by people living in villages along the Lagos lagoon like in Epe.
“Deep inside Epe, along the Lagos lagoon, more than 145 villages are tucked away far from the bustling city life. They have been left behind and are now held hostage by the consequences of a race to modernity. Women are giving birth depending on nature only and their children are growing up, waiting for power and education, hoping for the future. Basic sanitation is absent since the source of drinking water, the lagoon, also serves as the main conduit for waste disposal.
“Although they are very close to the beating heart of the Nigerian economy, they lack access to health, water and education. Water hyacinth, a beautiful disaster, has taken over the lagoon and severely limits mobility and trade”, Alonge declared in a statement preceding the press preview/media briefing which kick-starts the show by noon of Thursday September 16. While the exhibition opens today (Saturday September 18), a workshop is scheduled on September 25, with a public debate to wrap up the show on Sunday, September 26.
The event is scheduled to feature a documentary also dubbed ‘Greener Pastures’, which is available on YouTube. Speaking on the documentary, Alonge, who is the director, Eyes of a Lagos Boy, said: “This project started in January 2018 and is the result of a collective desire to contribute to a better future for these communities.” He added that the documentary aims to further amplify the challenges of affected areas with a view to change the narrative.
“The challenges faced by locals are universal while being compounded by external factors,” he explains… “The documentary captures never-seen images of these settlements and gives a platform to its inhabitants. The beauty of the artworks is in sharp contrast with the stark reality of these villagers, invisible as a result of predatory seaweed and lack of political will. It is a call for help, an alarm signal that cannot be ignored.”
The event initiated by Alonge alongside Sola Otori and others is billed to take place at Didi Museum in Lagos. He adds: “We were also inspired by artists such as Claude Monet and his water lilies, Venice and its water ambulances, and parallels between the water shrines and the Itsukushima Shrine in Japan.” Proceeds from sales of art and photography will contribute to buying books for local schools and other initiatives that address the urgent needs of these communities.
A proud graduate of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Nigeria with more than two decades of experience in documenting history, Bolaji Alonge looks for beauty where it is least expected. He shows his beloved Lagos from unexpected angles, a city that inspires and captivates imagination. In May 2017, Alonge organized his “Eyes of a Lagos Boy” photo exhibition at Freedom Park in Lagos. His second solo exhibition “Urban Culture – Historical Continuity” was held at One Draw Gallery, Ikoyi, Lagos, in November 2018.
In February 2019, Alonge showcased his work at Baza Studio in New York. A third solo exhibition, “Black & White” was held at Quintessence, Lagos in July 2019. This ‘Greener Pastures’ is realized in collaboration with Sola Otori, a multidisciplinary artist exploring cultural diversity in Africa and the issues of religion and spiritualism, politics and power as they affect marginalized communities. Otori works in photography, painting and film. His work shows both the beauty of his land and culture as well as the need for social positive change.
Otori received his training first as an apprentice at the ‘Abayomi Barber School of Thought’, University of Lagos and Art and Design at Yaba College of Technology. He established his multimedia studio, working on photography assignments and commissioned art projects, with exhibitions in Lagos, Kampala and Johannesburg. In 2014, he studied digital film making at the SAE Institute Cape Town South Africa.
Driven by a strong sense of the importance of equal opportunities for every child, he initiated the “Silent Majority” project, a creative art/ photography workshop for street orphans, the socially deprived or displaced and teenagers in juvenile detention or correctional facilities.
