Art, News, Travel / 16 Apr 2021

The Obama Portraits Tour

From June 2021 to May 2022, The Obama Portraits Tour, organised by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, will travel to five cities across the U.S. to reach millions of people who might not otherwise have an opportunity to view these remarkable paintings. In addition to the artworks themselves, The tour will feature audio-visual elements, educational workshops and curatorial presentations. A richly illustrated book titled The Obama Portraits (2020), co-published by the National Portrait Gallery and Princeton University Press. Select merchandise will also be available. This special presentation will include conversations surrounding the power of portraiture and its potential to engage communities. From the moment of their unveiling at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery in February 2018, the museum’s official portraits of President Barack Obama by Kehinde Wiley and Mrs Michelle Obama by Amy Sherald have become iconic. The tour locations include The Art Institute of Chicago (18 June to 15 August 2021); Brooklyn Museum, New York (27 August to 24 October 2021); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (5 November 2021 to 2 January 2022); High Museum of Art, Atlanta (14 January to 13 March 2022); The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (27 March to May 30, 2022). The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery recognises the lead donors to the Obama portraits: Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg; Judith Kern and Kent Whealy; Tommie L. Pegues and Donald A. Capoccia; Clarence, DeLoise and Brenda Gaines; The Stoneridge Fund of Amy and Marc Meadows; Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker; Catherine and Michael Podell. Support for the national tour has been generously provided by Bank of America. https://npg.si.edu/obamaportaitstour Read The Dirty South: Contemporary Art, Material Culture, and the Sonic Impulse

Art, Culture & Travel, Dance & Theatre, Lifestyle, News, Travel / 01 Mar 2021

Lagos Theatre Festival 2021: ‘Reckless Art’

The 2021 edition of the annual Lagos Theatre Festival (LTF) will run from 18 March to 21 March on digital streaming platforms such as Stage Play TV and Wealth Nation TV. Themed ‘Reckless Art’, the four-day event marks the 8th anniversary of the Festival, as well as a first for holding virtually. ‘Reckless Art’ will feature 7 production companies including Kininso Concepts, Just Theatre House, and Mystro Theatre. In addition, there will be workshops, online parties, master classes, Instagram live sessions, and panel discussions. Lagos Theatre Festival was conceived and launched in 2013 by the British Council, with the purpose of providing a platform for theatre makers in Nigeria to produce theatre works for unconventional spaces and develop audiences for theatre productions. The management of the Festival recently transitioned into the care of a registered trust, a Not-for-Profit organisation – LTF Foundation LTD/GTE managed by a board of directors – Olasupo Shasore SAN (Chairman), Bikiya Graham-Douglas, Ajoke Silva, Bolanle Austen-Peters, David Evans, Bolanle Austen-Peters and Tosin Oshinowo. During a virtual media briefing, Graham-Douglas expressed an eagerness on behalf of the team and assured that scrupulous arrangements have been effected to ensure the success of the event. “It’s not been easy. We’ve had a rough couple of months to ensure the success of the festival.” Read Seun Oduwole: Architecture as Experiential Public Art

Architecture, Architecture & Design, Design, Fashion, Lifestyle, Luxury, News, Travel / 26 Jan 2021

Lexus in Collaboration with Tosin Oshinowo and Chrissa Amuah Present a Collection of Headpieces Celebrating Innovation through Design and Craftsmanship

Last Thursday, Lexus unveiled the widely celebrated collaboration between leading Lagos-based architect and designer Tosin Oshinowo, and British-Ghanaian textiles designer Chrissa Amuah in its second act; the reveal of 4 new headpieces, representing two new district design directions: Pioneer Futures and Ògún. Commissioned by Lexus, the series explores how human movement has been redefined by the COVID-19 pandemic and reconsiders the utilitarian masks of today exploring the potential for celebration and experimentation alongside functionality. The three uniquely designed headpieces are titled Egaro, Pioneer Futures, and Ògún, which have slight alterations, and integrate multiple materials such as brass, bronze, leather, and acrylic, with detailing of hand beading, laser etching and embroidery using the West African tinko method. Working by hand with artisans that use ancient craft techniques, was matched with the use of 3D printing and advanced technologies. All three of the mask designs feature transparent panels, which allow the wearer to overcome the challenges of communicating with limited facial expressions presented by typical protective masks. Egaro takes its name from the site at Termit in eastern Niger, where archaeological evidence confirms that Africa had independently invented its own iron technology 5,000 years ago. It is a celebration of the discoveries and advancement that originated on the continent. The stencil design running across the headpieces acts as a face shield, covering the eyes, nose and mouth, offering added protection. The pattern that is etched onto the visor is called Breathe, which is inspired by the pulmonary veins of the lungs. It also follows an African fractal rhythm, which is further echoed in the embroidery seen in Pioneer Futures. Iteration one is transparent and iteration two is covered with reflective bronze, making a significant statement. Materials include moulded transparent acrylic and brass. Pioneer Futures refers to the age of enlightenment, where mankind…

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