Lagos Photo
lagosphoto festival largest international photography festival nigeria attracts visitor annually founded azu nwagbogu african artist foundation festival spotlight emerging established photographer africa internationally strong focus presenting historical contemporary story african continent monthlong festival take place various indoor outdoor venue includes exhibition event workshop residency talk digital program photographer artist taken part viviane sassen samuel fosso hassan hajjaj maimouna guerresi zanele muholi inaugural edition leveraged nigeria year independence curated azu nwagbogu caline chagoury marc prust participating photographer required worked lagos nigeria africa shooting work interpreted theme ‘no judgement africa prism’ second edition presented hidden story continent opposed misrepresented overrepresented sensationalized dramatic image commonly covered power photography titled ‘what’s next africa hidden stories’ festival curated azu nwagbogu caline chagoury marc prust medina dugger titled ‘seven day life lagos’ festival aimed capturing energy vibrancy lagos city extreme contradiction lagos transforms fast pace urban migration explosion development technology dissolving barrier leading new type interaction festival curated azu nwagbogu caline chagoury stanley greene medina dugger joseph gergel ‘the megacity noncity’ explored development urban center africa photography transformed sense place globally connected world st century characterised rise megacity city lagos transitioning adapting vast change taking place unprecedented speed situating photography core practice artist investigated circulation image society mass consumption capacity document personal collective worldviews festival curated azu nwagbogu staging reality documenting fiction showcased contemporary photographer africa delved connection belief truth incorporating conceptual performative strategy go beyond traditional photographic practice artist challenged confines photojournalistic gaze work reflected departure conventional approach addressing complex social political issue define twentyfirstcentury africa artist looked alternative future construct fictive world employing photography catalyst probe evolving reality contemporary africa festival curated azu nwagbogu lagosphoto festival sixth edition themed designing future looked african design understanding shape africa central platform discussing historical present future aspiration creation image identity desire ecology culture explored various medium including advertising textile portraiture factual conceptual photography diverse avenue question process navigate envision possibility within realm future africa festival curated cristina de middel festival curated azu nwagbogu central theme seventh edition inherent risk ritual performance explored constructed notion gender image identity social agency power dynamic contemporary society festival showcased work photographer country festival curated azu nwagbogu iteration lagosphoto festival prompted artist contemplate prevailing system truth belief questioning diminishing significance pursuit reality era contemporary time photography emerged modern repository fading quest reality merely due perceived freedom rather encapsulates synthesis expose contradiction inherent knowledge society imperative creativity festival curated azu nwagbogu theme time gone focus festival explored contemporary dialogue encompassing various aspect time artist diverse corner world engaged discussion notion urgency artist investigated practice archiving preserving envisioning afrocentric future concluding time festival curated azu nwagbogu eva barois de caeval charlotte langhorst wunika mukan valentine umansky passport theme th edition lagosphoto festival asked question ‘what option living freely world determined borders’ artist different nationality invited explore option fluid world nationality gender historical imbalance secondary festival curated azu nwagbogu charlotte langhorst mariapia bernardoni special programme fast forward portrait humanity woman lens eleventh edition festival focused theme ‘rapid response restitution’ looking prospect decolonial citizen history utilizing democratic medium photography lagosphoto established home museum featuring two hundred participant african continent u south america china europe launch home museum’s open call may synchronous virulent first wave corona pandemic mobility access exhibition severely hampered aaf began imagine new way building digital museum extended concept home home museum served prototype citizen institution every member society actively could contribute communal understanding cultural value directly engage question restitution eliminating delay process festival curated azu nwagbogu dr clémentine deliss dr oluwatoyin sogbesan asya yaghmurian twelfth edition annual lagosphoto introduced theme memory palace delving connection human memory explores transformative capacity photography image ignite visual intellect restoring fading lost memory discourse evolved concept previous year’s festival home museum memory palace year theme ‘memory palace’ looked reimagining heritage history relating africa diaspora festival curated azu nwagbogu included talk ibrahim mahama special programme taurus obayomi anthony exhibition youth protest nigeria exhibition remember liberated body charged object theme th edition lagosphoto festival questioned subjectivity inherent colonial archive encouraged creation sustainable new model guided ancestral contemporary wisdom festival curated azu nwagbogu theme year ground state – fellowship within uncanny explores revive mend restore enigmatic history vital survival festival curated peggy sue amison special programme ground remember photographic collective listening deepness como ser fotografa regarding pain others addis foto fest african photography encounter art biennial africa official website interview creative director gup