For about two weeks I was a stakeholder in endeavours aimed at utilising creative arts (sculptor, painting, drawing, acting, film making/screening, etc.) for engendering peace. Between the 27th and 30th of October 2022, the International Institute for Creative Development (IICD) held its annual 'Abuja Open House' where galleries and art spaces in Abuja were open to invited guests. Some of the galleries and spaces are: Moeshen gallery, Thought Pyramid Art Gallery, IICD Centre, House 33, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Fraser Suites, Nordic Hotel, Mambaah Cafe, Institute Francais, Turkish Embassy, Orisun Art Gallery, Cafe de Vie, Hare & Grouse, ArtLife @ GreenHouse, Yunus Emre Institute & Matrix Gallery of Contemporary Art.
Between the 31st of October and 3rd of November 2022, the 19th annual Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF) was held at Siverbird Cinemas, Abuja. The festival featured film screenings, discussion panels, workshops, master classes & awards.
Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & wife of GM Fraser Suites, Abuja. Some of the paintings of Timi Kakandar are displayed in the background...
The theme of IICD's 'Open House' for 2022 is 'The Convergence'. According to IICD, the Art Spaces & Galleries are now future spaces of physical encounter, engagement, exchange of ideas - ideologies, environmental issues and cultural exchange. Social, political, economic and ecological issues are discussed in these spaces. There is also historical content. Questions are asked and answered. The spaces showcase culture, style, music, food, trends and fashion...
Photo L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Mrs. Temitope Duker (Festival Director) @ the Closing Ceremony of the 19th Abuja International Film Festival (AIFF)
IICD's theme, 'The Convergence', began as 'a hybrid conversation, a coming together of all the fragmented elements in a mapped trajectory - the social, economic, political, ecological and historical trajectories in convergence. Convergence is built on the truth about the city, Abuja, as a place of convergence. Abuja Open House (AOH) brought to life the creative sanctity of the city - it's an inventory and an adventure. Guests were invited to walk on a shore of intangible and tangible footprints. It's a journey - one step in the past - two steps in the present. We all converged to re-imagine our identity and our shared experiences'. (Source: AOH Leaflet)
Photo L-R: Mohamad Khechen (Lebanese-Nigerian Founder/Curator, Moeshen Art Gallery - MAG) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ MAG, Life Camp, Abuja
Photo L-R: Dotun Popoola (Sculptor extraordinaire a.k.a. 'Welder of the Federal Republic of Nigeria') & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ The Turkish Embassy, Abuja...Dotun was sponsored by the Turkish Embassy to Ankara. He created a RAM from scrap material, which is displayed at the entrance of the Presidential Symphony Orchestra in Ankara!...
Dayo @ the Turkish Embassy, Abuja with the smaller version of the RAM sculptured by Dotun Popoola in Ankara, Turkey. This small ram is also a product of Dotun's creativity...
Dayo in her element @ Fraser Suites, where Timi Kakandar's paintings were on display
Artiste, Timi Kakandar's profile displayed alongside his works @ Fraser Suites, Abuja
Dayo @ Silverbird Cinemas: @ the Opening Ceremony of the AIFF...
Dayo @ Silverbird Cinemas on the 2nd day of the AIFF
Dayo on the grounds of Nordic Hotel, Abuja, when I sneaked out of the main exhibition hall to have some 'me time' on the swing outside
Painting: CAGED: African Beauty by Timi Kakandar @ Fraser Suites
Painting - 'Take me to safety' @ Nordic Hotel: Artist unknown
For almost two weeks, I had a swell time in Galleries/Art Spaces & Siverbird Cinemas...Beautiful paintings, delicately sculptured 'themes', screening of meaningful short movies that depict the essence of the 17 SDGs/motivation for peace were more than delightful. I look forward to the next edition of both the IICD Abuja Open House and the AIFF... Cheers!
