Ilojo Bar Small ResDreams From My Roots, a solo photo exhibition by Ayodele Ojo aimed at promoting Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage through architecture and design and remembering the influence of the European style detailing on African architecture during colonial era, has come and gone, but the lessons learnt are instructive.
“I realised that Nigerians are most likely to remember the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, and recognise it, rather than a lot of our landmark heritage,” Mr. Ojo told SimonAtebaNews during an exclusive interview in Lagos.
“For instance, Alimi Mosque in Ilorin or Ewi palace in Ado Ekiti, will draw blank stares from the younger generation”.
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The photo exhibition, at the Neo Cafe on Adeola Odeku Street, Victoria Island in Lagos, between 13 and 31 March 2016 was a success, Mr. Ojo said.
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“It was really a success story because of the large turnout of many art lovers and history students. It was educative as it helped to change mindsets towards better appreciation of our heritage,” he said.
“It also served as a watershed in rewriting our history because it is rare to mix documentation with fine art. They are two parallels”.
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Dreams from my Roots showcased varied architectural photographs across time and cultures, taken across the South Western Region of Nigeria.
“Each of the works has been a journey to rediscover myself while engaging with the viewers through sometimes torturous and ardour road less travelled,” Mr. Ojo said during the exhibition.
“It has also led me to review images carried over from my youth in a nostalgic vision, interestingly new research has led me to discovering new vista, having grown up in a rural and rustic settings of Ekiti mountainous region of Nigeria”.
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It was a transitory journey that tried to see through the history of occupied spaces, a culture of a people that welcomed emerging trend with little or no attention to her past, he explained.
The project questioned the role of architecture in family values, said Mr. Ojo whose photography style varies between Photojournalism, Artistic and Documentary.
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Versatile, Mr. Ojo also paints Watercolour at his spare time. His art works are displayed at Pees Galeria, Baffles Art Gallery and Signature Art Gallery-Lagos.
Already, he has started a body of works on social issues such as violence against women and girls.
“This is to address injustices against women and girls in our society”.
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