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Lagos Photo Foundation begins photo festival

has began the sixth edition of the annual LagosPhoto Festival in Lagos, Nigeria, from Saturday, October 24 – November 27, 2015, entitled Designing Futures.

LagosPhoto is the first and only international arts festival of photography in Nigeria. The event include exhibitions, workshops, artists presentations, discussions, screening, and large scale outdoor installations in congested public spaces in Lagos. Lagos Photo aims to provide a platform for the development and education of contemporary photography in Africa by establishing mentorships and cross-cultural collaborations with local and international artists.

LagosPhoto is embodied in the exploration of historical and contemporary issues, the promotion of social programmes, and the reclaiming of public spaces. LagosPhoto 2015 will feature 30 photographers spanning 18 countries Designing Futures, this year’s theme is intended to explore contemporary dialogues surrounding design in Africa. In a continent whose design history includes the Benin bronzes, Adinkra, and some of the oldest writing systems known to man, to these feats are acknowledged in the rich and sometimes frugally chic designs we see today.

Photographers from across the continent and beyond will display and also create awareness of the cultural and socio-political landscape that influence daily life, and in turn communicate that awareness through the images they create. Looking at both the literal definition of design, and a more philosophical one, curator Cristina De Middel states: “Making a plan is designing your future, crossing your fingers, praying.” By questioning our concept of creative design and day to day design and blurring the line between the two, the exhibition presents photography that forces the viewer to reconsider and even reconcile what design is, has become, and will be in the future.

LagosPhoto opened to the public on October 24, 2015, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Satellite exhibition venues in arts and cultural spaces throughout the city extend to Omenka Gallery, African Artists’

Foundation, Stranger Lagos, Goethe-Institut, Nimbus Gallery, Alara Concept Store, A White Space Gallery, Yaba Tech, Quintessence. Outdoor exhibitions in public spaces in Lagos include Muri Okunola Park, Falomo Roundabout (Ikoyi), Awojobi Park (Onike), and Freedom Park, Victoria Island, Lagos.

LagosPhoto is proudly sponsored by Eko Hotel & Suites and Etisalat, partnering World Press Photo. Supporters include Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, Lagos State Signage & Advertisement Agency, Lagos State Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Romarong, Pixers, Goethe Institut. Media sponsors include Hello Nigeria!, Brick Plus Magazine, Cool FM, Cool TV, Konbini and 54artistry and Ford Foundation.

ENCOMIUM Weekly spoke with Mr. Azu Nwagbogu…

How do you feel today?

I feel very happy and good.

 Mr. Azu Nwagbogu
Mr. Azu Nwagbogu

What informed this initiative?

This is the sixth edition of LagosPhoto Festival. And photo festival is giving every artist and photographer the platform to dialogue with the rest of the world and to make Lagos a destination for every artist and photographer.

What can you say about the number of people here tonight?

Yes, we have a great turnout today and I am very happy for that.

What can you say about the artists that participated in this year’s competition?

The artists are there, you can also read their captions, which would tell you more about their projects.

What makes this year different from the previous events?

This year is special because we have embraced a new identity with more African artists and photographer on the show. Moreover, this year’s edition goes beyond photography.

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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