Faced with prohibitive travel restrictions, and ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic, Kathryn Weir and Folakunle Oshun, the artistic directors of the 2021 Lagos Biennial, searched for an alternative model. While an online format provided the obvious pragmatic space to deliver a show, the pair wanted to use the opportunity to decentralise the biennial model further. Putting out an open call for artists and curators to collectively develop projects under the theme of ‘refuge’, to be shown on the biennial website, these will then go on to form the nucleus of the 2023 edition, which the organisers hope will take the traditional largescale exhibition format.
Stretching two weeks from 4 to 16 of December, the following independent projects will be shown:
Alien in Eritrea, curated by Sephora Woldu (Eritrea/USA)
Artists: Sephora Woldu (Eritrea/USA), Shushan Tesfuzigta Eritrea/USA), Rezene Tsegai Eritrea/USA), Nahom Abraham Wael (Eritrea), Gzoly Vishnu Balunsat (Philipines/Germany/USA)
As the Carbon We Are by artist Jade Montserrat (UK), curated by Alexandra Moore (UK)
Eworo Yi Ngbe: Plant Temple, by artist Yussef Agbo-Ola (Nigeria/USA), curated by Olaniyi Studio (UK)
Hanging Imaginaries featuring artists Feda Wardak (Afghanistan/France), Kassir Kossoko (Benin), Platform Aman Iwan, curated by Ayodele Arigbabu (Nigeria)
Mare a Mare, featuring Meriem Chabani (France/Algeria), Zoe Paul (UK), Mohssin Harraki (Morocco), Leone Contini (Italy), Asuncion Molinos Gordo (Spain), curated by Anïssa Touati (France)
Musing the Border, featuring artists Helena Uambembe (South Africa/Angola), Kiluanji Kia Henda & Paulo Moreira (Angola/Portugal), Marina Camargo (Brazil), Sammy Baloji (DRC), curated by Paula Nascimento (Angola), Suzana Sousa (Angola)
Outsider, featuring artists: Martinka Bobrikova (Slovakia), Oscar de Carmen (Spain), Anto Lloveras (Spain), curated by María Alejandra Gatti (Argentinia/Italy)
Radio Born Throw Way by artist Adéọlá Ọlágúnjú (Nigeria)
The Albanian Conference, featuring artist Anna Ehrenstein (Germany), Vidisha Saini (Fadescha) (India), Rebecca Pokua Korang (Germany), Blair Opara and Clinton Opara DNA (Nigeria), curated by Shaunak Mahbubani (India)
Traces of Ecstasy, featuring artists Temitayo Shonibare (Nigeria), Nolan Oswald Dennis (South Africa), Evan Ifekoya (UK), Raymond Pinto (USA), Adeju Thompson (Nigeria), curated by Kojo Abudu (UK/Nigeria)
Xtraencestral, featuring artist Colleen Ndemeh Fitzgerald (USA/Liberia), Julia Cohen Ribeiro (Argentina), Lina Lasso (Colombia), Jasmin Sánchez (Brazil), Florencia Victoria Gomes (Argentina), curated by Kukily, afrofeminist arts collective
