Matter of Now: 7 Nigerian Minds in Freetown
unx-gallery, Freetown, 16th-24th of May
A Group Exhibition Celebrating Seven Nigerian Minds in Freetown
Unx-art has proudly presented seven remarkable Nigerian artists in their gallery in Freetown in the Matter of Now exhibition. Each offered a distinct contemporary lens on African culture and societal values. The exhibition ran from the 16th to the 24th May, 2025, at their gallery space at Leicester Peak, Freetown.
The exhibition has featured the introspective work of Sor Sen, Nigerian painter and celebrated author of Of Souls, Accents and Stillness, with his piece Soaking it in All II...; Helen Nzete’s enthralling watercolor V is for ... series, exploring the nuances of femininity; Chike Emembo’s unique "foam-storytelling" approach, weaving a tale of elegance and intrigue in his Muted Elegance Series; the rich impasto paintings of John Oyedemi, capturing the royal exuberance of Durbar in Northern Nigeria; Imal Silva’s captivating fusion of science and art in Once in a Blue Moon; Charles Achibi’s exploration of the human condition through therapeutic hues and soothing strokes, whispering a subtle symphony of renewal; and the bold and energetic, Basquiat-inspired works of Olasunkanmi Oyelusi.
Why “The Matters of Now”?
The ‘Matter of Now’ in Nigeria intertwines contemporary art with lived experience. It captures a space where memory, material, and identity intersect. Nigerian artists have viewed the present as a layered continuum, shaped by the past and imagining the future through form. Their works have reflected sensitivity to rhythm, place, and personal myth, transforming everyday experiences into narratives that express individual and collective realities.
Through this collective encounter, The Matter of Now has revealed a landscape both personal and expansive, where the intimacy of lived experience meets the fullness of a cultural legacy in motion. It has been a celebration of Nigeria’s artistic voice: rooted, resonant, and defiantly alive.
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