Art Twenty One
6 July - 6 Sept, 2023 | Lagos, Nigeria
Art Twenty One & Retro Africa present "Eniyan: Escape Room, an immersive solo exhibition by visual artist, Yusuff Aina.
The Exhibition delves into the intricate voyage of Yusuff's artistic practice, encapsulating the depths of his emotional exploration and the potent influence of self-discovery, this exhibition invites spectators to navigate the intricacies of vulnerability, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of personal growth. Through a captivating dialogue between the artist, Yusuff, and the viewer, this exhibition serves as both a therapeutic exploration and a call for collective introspection.
The titled Eniyan: Escape Room, Eniyan which means, “human being”, reflects themes such as depression, isolation, fear, anxiety, neutrality, peace, anger, frustration, and passion. Aina categorise each emotion in distinct rooms—Red Room, Blue Room, Yellow Room, White Room, Green Room and Black Room.
As Aina describes, “Eniyan is the medium to explore the journey of human beings and Ainaism represents that unseen pattern and form of navigation in life. All works I create through Eniyan possess uniqueness in form, compositions, symbols, language, connection to being and spirituality". The entire floor, covered in gravel painted to match the colour scheme of each room, serves as a tactile reminder of the profound connection between our mental states and physical surroundings.
The exhibition, which runs from July 6 to September 6, 2023, at Art Twenty One, Lagos, is an immersive and interactive experience that invites the viewers to explore Yusuff's artistic practice and personal transformation, as he aims to inspire the viewers to embark on their journeys of self-discovery and personal evolution.
He has participated in several exhibitions and residencies, both locally and internationally, including the Lagos Biennial (2019), the Dakar Biennale (2020), the Art X Lagos (2020), and the Africa Now exhibition at the World Bank headquarters in Washington DC (2020), amongst his other exhibitions including The Art of Being (2019), The Art of Disruption (2020), and The Art of Healing (2021).
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