It is my pleasure to welcome you to Yenwa another stop on what has been a fulfilling journey that is constantly being affirmed by God, my family &my friends.

Yenwa, a part of my middle name, is translated as "Give Life", a prayer for us and for all who share space with us.

As a curator and art practitioner focused on African and Black stories, it is important for me to play a part in the restoration, dissemination and preservation. Launching the gallery is both a call to exist in bold font and to use my passion and capacity to fill identified gaps.

Yenwa gallery exhibits the best in contemporary painting and sculpture across Africa and its diasporas with a special focus on African photography and new media. it features a library/workspace, "Yenwa Art Lab" to encourage discovery and community access. it was important for me to create a space that also nurtures the development of curatorial and critical engagement. I hope to provide a platform for artist and curators to enrich and grow their career. a space of ideas and conversation: culture, spirituality and interconnectedness, Yenwa was created to explore and exhibit the contemporary and the conceptual, to incubate and supporting the arts academically and commercially.

For the inaugural exhibition in the gallery space- this group show simultaneously  invokes Lagos art and exhibition legacy as well as celebrates the interconnectedness.

Inner space delves into the intricacies of the spaces we inhabit  within ourselves our personal relationships, and our shared environments. it goes beyond the physical dimensions and explores the multidimensional aspects of our existence. Through various artistic mediums and perspectives this exhibition seeks to unravel the layers of social and cultural contexts that shapes our internal and external landscapes resulting in an intergenerational cartography of expressions & emotion.

The intergenerational aspect allows for a rich tapestry of expression showcasing how different individuals and generations navigate and interpret the spaces they inhabit. Kolade Oshinowo's works respond to "various stimuli within our socio/economic, political, cultural and environmental space" in this exhibition his works discuss both communal space and familial relationships, Joshua Nmesrionye's  works echoes similar themes- inspired by people, environment and his imagination, he tells his stories through textured canvases.

Ehinomen Okoeki takes us through a spectrum of interpersonal relationships, seamlessly expressing both nostalgia and urgency. Duke Asidere expresses love for colour and storytelling through a celebration of the female form, whilst also tackling topical social issues. Amarachi Odimba's dripped lines of paint cutting across the bodies in her work reflect the boundaries in which we  navigate society, her paintings informed by "personal projections on the complexities of the human condition." Kelechi Orode Chukwueke's works are often influenced by quiet intimate moments of reflection, while Fiyin Koko explores themes of freedom and self discovery, both artists employing the use of bold colours and pattern against the serenity of blue hues. Edosa Oguigo's women dancers or men on horseback depict a shared theme of freedom and his fascination for movement, mentally sharing space with his stories in an effort to transfer his energy onto canvas. Nola Ayoola's works, a literal pulling apart, respond to the feelings that come with unpacking and uncovering. Foluso's curiosity for nature informs his practices, he merges themes of folklore, spirituality and environmental conversation as a means of direction towards reconnecting and rediscovering ourselves. Enotie Ogbebor works engage with the themes of environment, the trafficking of people, and preservation of indigenous cultural heritage, depicted in vibrant colors and symbols that draw copiously from his Benin Kingdom heritage and serve as a call for action.

Inner space invites viewers to embark on a journey of self- reflection, introspection, and connection. it encourages them to contemplate the multifaceted nature of their own inner spaces and to consider the ways in which these spaces intersect with their personal relationships and the larger world around them.

   

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