J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere: Lagos skyline overlooking the New Marina, 1982. Photo: Foto Ojeikere

Invitational project: Moments of Beauty

The Centre for Contemporary Art Lagos (CCA, Lagos) will participate in the ARS 11 project with an exhibition of photographic work by J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere from a career spanning more than 60 years. Ojeikere has for decades documented the urbanisation and local cultures of Nigeria. The digitalisation of this unique body of work in connection with the ARS exhibition will leave a culturally and historically significant visual archive for future generations.

The review in Kiasma will showcase J.D. 'Okhai Ojeikere's major contribution not only to cultural and sociopolitical history writing in Nigeria, but also to the development of African photography as a whole. In addition to pictures from the famous Hairstyles series, the show also includes series that explore developments in architecture and fashion.

Moments of Beauty is produced by Kiasma and CCA Lagos. The curators are Bisi Silva, the founder of CCA, Lagos, and Aura Seikkula, an independent curator from Helsinki.

Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos is an independent visual art organisation founded in 2007. Its mission is to develop and present contemporary visual art and culture and to serve as a forum for discussion. CCA, Lagos prioritises new media and experimental visual art practices such as photography, animation, film, video and performance art. Although its focus is on Nigeria and the West African Region, CCA, Lagos also cooperates with other African and international organisations, artists and curators.