The Maker Lab births another extraordinary exhibit in the form of Obayomi Anthony's depiction of the wretched conditions facing students in hostels.
The Maker Lab is an expansion of The Maker, a bi-annual portfolio review program launched in 2013 for young emerging artists to showcase their work to diverse panel of judges and the public in a portfolio review. This year African Artists Foundation launches a thrilling new exhibition space.
The Exhibition
The Maker Lab, which is solely focused on creating a platform for artists (aged 18-35) to showcase their work. The Maker Lab is a career springboard for emerging artists creating dynamic art.
The Maker Lab endeavours to function as a safe space for artistic dialogue between artists and their audiences, where artworks can be gleaned, appreciated and collected. It will be a space where young collectors and artists can grow in tandem.
Located in a new loft space at the African Artists’ Foundation, the Lab will exhibit new and dynamic works by young contemporary artists working with the same or similar thematic media/subject matter. They will be afforded the opportunity to have their works installed for public viewing, creating avenues for discussion, critique and sales through exhibitions, organised workshops and public round table discussions.
The Artist
Obayomi Anthony is a photographer living in Lagos, Nigeria. Born 24th October 1994, he creates images and pursues documentaries that draw one into the stories of his subjects. Obayomi uses photography to tell the stories of people and society as his contribution to the development of the world and its people.
Obayomi is the award winner of the first LagosPhoto x National Geographic Portfolio Review,where he was awarded a $10,000 prize to further his career as a documentary photographer.
Pulse sat down with Obayomi Anthony to discuss his contribution to the 'Here is Home' exhibition and what inspired the project.
What’s the main thing you want people to take away from your exhibit?
An awareness, new information or just a reminder for something they might already know. With all my work I aim to share stories that stay longer in the minds of those who come in contact with it.
When did you first become aware of the issue of overcrowding in hostels and what inspired you to document it in such a way?
I was aware of the issue from the first day I moved into the school hostel in 2014, its a really difficult thing to unsee when you live in that system, but I only decided to start this project in October 2016, after attending a photography masterclass at LagosPhoto, there I was able to put my skill to test on a long term project for the first time and my inspiration came from personal experience and an a deep conviction in the importance of the story.
Do you believe this is symptomatic of a more serious problem with the University system as a whole in Nigeria?
My observations and encounters creating this documentary did open my eyes to other problems beyond accommodation and housing for students. The same gross irresponsibility and Negligence of duty by those whom we have handed the wheels of the Nigerian educational system is root to many other problems that are not being addressed or even discussed anywhere, most of these problems, unlike housing may not have a striking physical presence, but they are there. No solutions are being proposed, no one is held accountable for anything, and several students have been rusticated for speaking up and protesting.
What do you think would be a feasible solution to the problem of overcrowding in hostels?
Well, a first step is to inform ourselves, (something I think this project is seeing to currently) that we have a problem, and hold those who have been offered these jobs responsible for their actions and inactions. I also look forward to other opportunities that could help me extend this project to other parts of the world and explore how other governments and societies have been solving some of the problems we now face, by exploring how their students live and the challenges they also face and how these challenges are tackled.
What does being exhibited at The Maker Lab mean to you and what does the initiative as a whole mean for young artists such as yourself?
To young artists out there I will start by telling you that this exhibition did not cost me a penny, an all expense paid exhibition is a big boost that many young creatives as myself would appreciate especially at early stages of your career when bills for things such as exhibitions are impossible to pay.
I definitely encourage young artists and creatives to apply for future editions, the AAF is a good environment to develop your work and the team there is a really great one with nice people. As For myself, The maker Lab has helped me share my work with the society and put this important issue of student housing in Nigeria into more peoples discussions and conversations.