Adenrele Sonariwo Leads Nigeria's Debut at 2017 Venice Biennale

Adenrele Sonariwo, lead curator of Nigeria's first national pavilion at the 2017 Venice Biennale, details the exhibition 'How About NOW?' at Scoletta La Scuola dell'Arte dei Tiraoro e Battior, Campo San Stae. The pavilion features three Nigerian artists: Peju Alatise, Victor Ehikhamenor, and Qudus Onikeku. Ehikhamenor presents 'The Biography of the Forgotten,' large-scale installations fusing abstract shapes with traditional sculpture to explore colonialism's impact on cultural heritage. Onikeku showcases 'Right Here, Right Now,' a trilogy of performance film investigating body memory and national consciousness through dance. Alatise presents 'Flying Girls,' an installation of eight winged life-size girls addressing injustice and envisioning a safer future for young girls. Sonariwo emphasizes the collaborative effort involving Nigerians from Abuja, Lagos, New York, and beyond. She asserts the Venice Biennale's unique status as the world's most representative exhibition. The pavilion aims to present Nigeria beyond negative headlines, allowing artists to be seen as individuals rather than lumped under 'African art.' Sonariwo expects the pavilion to open doors, generate interest from critics and museum directors, and inspire future Nigerian artists.