In a Pot of Hot Soup

‘In a Pot of Hot Soup’ presents an exhibition of contemporary Nigerian art, digital and non-digital, centred on artists’ explorations of the roles of political voice within Nigeria. The title draws on Nigerian culinary metaphors to emphasise the creativity and diversity of intersecting visual art worlds in Nigeria. It presents a current snapshot of some key Nigerian contemporary artists from a spectrum of media and practice, including photographers, cartoonists, animators, video, and mixed-media artists. The exhibition highlights the dynamic creativities of Nigerian artists as they encounter and respond to the often-challenging circumstances found in Nigeria shaped as they often are by local and national politics.

From Nigerian modernist Bruce Onobrakpeya’s screen prints to installation work by Ngozi Schommers and Peju Lawyiola, the exhibition sets out to explore how the creative arts in Nigeria articulate and offer reflection in one way or another on these challenges giving voice to the marginalised or unheard. The exhibition focuses on four themes, the struggles of everyday life; the art of politics (that shapes access to the resources of the state); of gendering art (and identities); and envisioning the environment. Established and emerging artists feature to offer a diversity of voice and visual means with both digital and non-digital art being exhibited, while the trends of social media are also highlighted. The emergent photography collective ‘1884’ will present contemporary positions within the context of the politics of everyday life in Nigeria.

The artists included in this exhibition are Albert Ohams, Ayọ̀ Akínwánde, Bruce Onobrakpeya, Christopher Obuh Nelson, Ebunoluwa Akinbo, Jerry Buhari, Jelili Atiku, Jimoh Ganiyu, Jumoke Sanwo, Kehinde Awofeso, Michael Owunna, Minne Atairu, Neec Nonso, Nelly Ating, Ngozi Schommers, Omoregie Oskapolor, Omokeko Olufela, Peju Alatise, Peju Layiwola, Sokari Douglas Camp and Tyna Adebowale. To read more about the artists, you can download their biographies .

The exhibition ‘A Pot of Hot Soup’ is one of the outcomes of the AHRC funded ArtoP project, a two-year research project on art and the visual articulation of politics in Nigeria led by Dr. Paula Callus at the National Centre for Computer Animation (NCCA) at Bournemouth University and Dr. Charles Gore, SOAS (artist, curator and world specialist on the arts and cultures of southern Nigeria), co-curated by Olive M. Gingrich - media art curator - and Peju Lawyiola - artist, curator and researcher.

A symposium at SOAS, London featuring artist talks and research presentations will conclude the exhibition in June 2022. The exhibition is supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, Bournemouth University, SOAS, the Photographer’s Gallery, and Lumen Art Projects.

Organiser: Brunei Gallery, SOAS

Contact email: gallery@soas.ac.uk