The New Awakening magazine, a publication of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation in collaboration with Essential Interiors magazine proudly presents a photographic exhibition titled A Perspective on Contemporary Nigerian Photography. The exhibition runs from September 25 to 26, 2009 at the Omenka Gallery, and will be opened by Dr Sam Amuka, publisher of Vanguard newspapers.
The exhibition features the work of Nigeria’s best-known names, as well as, emerging talents including Sunmi Smart-Cole, Don Barber, Kelechi Amadi-Obi, TY Bello and Mudi Yahaya. It will provide a broad perspective on the rich diversity of themes and techniques in contemporary Nigerian photography.
Photography exhibitions in Nigeria started in the mid 90′s and since then, Nigerian photographers have regularly participated in international photography festivals and biennales, winning prizes and gaining international acclaim. In the early 2000s, private galleries like Mydrim, Nimbus, Quintessence and Terra Kulture promoted and supported photography with group and solo exhibitions. From 2006, art exhibitions that have included work by well-known photographers as well as paintings and sculptures, have been held in different parts of the country. Recently, art bodies like the Society of Nigerian Artists and Visual Arts Society of Nigeria have included photography in their exhibitions next year. However, the recognition and respect photographers from Nigeria enjoy internationally is absent on the home front.
Therefore, this exhibition aims to add to the growing number of photography shows in Nigeria while promoting discourse in contemporary developments of the medium.