From the stables of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa) in New York comes a new exhibition New Photography 2023: Kelani Abass, Akinbode Akinbiyi, Yagazie Emezi, Amanda Iheme, Abraham Oghobase, Karl Ohiri, Logo Oluwamuyiwa.
Starting from May 28 through September 16, 2023, the world-class exhibition uncovers the photographic work of the seven artists. These artists, at various stages of their careers in photography, are united in their artistic portrayal of Lagos (Èkó), Nigeria.
This is the first time living West African photographers will showcase their work at MoMA in a group exhibition, and will mark the return of the New Photography series following a five-year hiatus.
New Photography 2023 was put together by Oluremi C. Onabanjo, Associate Curator, Department of Photography, assisted by Kaitlin Booher, Beaumont and Nancy Newhall Curatorial Fellow, Department of Photography. In a statement, Onabanjo talked about the essence of the exhibition. She stated: “In a world where global systems of relation are a given, photographic images occupy a crucial position. No longer is the photograph solely a means of recording our surroundings, it has become a central prism through which lived experience is made and shared.”
She added: “New Photography 2023 unites the work of seven artists who plumb the depths of the photographic medium, and mine its spatial, social, and historical undercurrents in order to make space for more nuanced forms of perception and encounter.”
Onabanjo is also organising a Photography Portfolio Review and Critical Workshop through C-MAP Africa in collaboration with The Nlele Institute (TNI), a Pan-African autonomous nonprofit organisation focusing on lens-based media. This is taking place from October 31 to November 2, 2022 at Angels and Muse (5 Sumbo Jibowu St, Ikoyi 101233, Lagos) during Art X Lagos, with support from MoMA’s International Council.