The Lagos regional exhibition of LIMCAF offers an early glimpse of the young artists who could shape the future of Nigerian contemporary art. Okechukwu
Uwaezuoke reports
Mingling with a gathering largely made up of artists under 35 at Thought Pyramid Art Centre on Norman Williams Street in southwest Ikoyi, Lagos, often evokes a familiar sensation—a kind of déjà vu. The faces and works may change, but the energy remains recognisable: young artists testing ideas, seeking recognition and competing for space in an increasingly crowded visual arts landscape.
That feeling was palpable on the late Saturday afternoon of July 25, when the Lagos edition of the Life in My City Art Festival, popularly known as LIMCAF, opened at the gallery. The exhibition brought together works by emerging artists vying for places among the finalists of one of Nigeria’s most enduring platforms for young creative talent, one whose influence is increasingly extending beyond the country’s borders.
The regional exhibitions represent the next stage of LIMCAF’s annual programme following the close of submissions on May 31. This year, 830 entries from artists across Nigeria are being presented across 18 designated centres. From these regional exhibitions, the top 100 works will be selected for the grand finale exhibition in Enugu, scheduled for October 24 to 31. The festival’s awards ceremony will follow on October 31 at the International Conference Centre of the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu.
