Last month we reached another exciting milestone with the completion of our first three residencies. The occasion was celebrated with a Resident's Presentation during which G.A.S. Fellowship recipients Femi Johnson and Uzor Ugoala, and TURN2 recipient Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock shared highlights from their experience with guests from Lagos and the wider Nigerian creative and cultural community. The audience of approximately 60 visitors included artists, gallerists, collectors, cultural stakeholders and art enthusiasts as well as G.A.S. Directors Temitayo Ogunbiyi and Niyi Adenubi.
Lynhan presenting the results of her residency to our audience.
The evening, hosted by G.A.S. Residency and Project Coordinator, Adekunle Adeboye, started with an introduction to the Foundation by Temitayo Ogunbiyi and was followed by a short presentation from each resident. Lynhan dedicated much of her G.A.S. residency to imagining archival formats that exist beyond institutional structures. In particular, how vernacular systems could be created from within to provide opportunities for art spaces, and for creative individuals to interact with each other. The result was her weekly Wetin Dey Cook series hosted at G.A.S., conceived to create an intimate environment where artists, collectors, curators and people from all walks of life could get together to exchange ideas and meet in a relaxed atmosphere.
From left to right: Uzor Ugoala, Femi Johnson, Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock, Temitayo Ogunbiyi, Adekunle Adeboye and Niyi Adenubi.
Uzor was the second resident to present. His vision for the opportunity was to develop the sculptural side of his practice further and create work that could stand alone from his historically primarily photographic output. His presentation culminated with the unveiling of two new sculptures created during his residency.
Finally, our guests heard from Femi who used the residency to grapple with questions surrounding the essence and evolution of the human experience and its relationship to art at the intersections of primary, virtual and augmented realities. During the course of his time at G.A.S., Femi hosted Maison Du Lumiere, an event that brought together thinkers, practitioners and thought leaders working within these spheres. Together with an invited audience, they interrogate further questions such as ‘given the biases and hierarchies in the tech world, are we building a universal future?’ and ‘do you believe that technological advancements will bring us closer or further away from African spiritual principles?’.
The evening concluded with a Q&A session hosted by Adekunle followed by light refreshments allowing our guests to network and celebrate our resident's incredible achievements.
Uzor Ugoala with event guests and one of the sculptures he produced during his residency.
Audience members who attended the evening participating in the Q&A.
Guests enjoying a new piece created by Femi Johnson during his residency.
Our first three residents (from left to right): Uzor Ugoala, Lynhan Balatbat-Helbock and Femi Johnson.
A view of the courtyard and Great Room at G.A.S. Lagos.