Lagos Biennial 2019

Co-curators: Antawan Byrd, Tosin Oshinowo, and Oyindamola Fakeye.

In recent decades, Lagos has undergone massive expansion, driven by large-scale land reclamation initiatives, major industrial and luxury development projects, new transportation infrastructures, and sprawling housing settlements. This growth has reshaped the city’s cosmopolitan identity and reputation as a hub for cultural and technological innovation. However, the rapid changes pose significant challenges faced by cities worldwide, including issues of identity, citizenship, affordable housing, sustainable resource use, and socio-economic equality.

The second edition of the Lagos Biennial of Contemporary Art, titled “How to Build a Lagoon with Just a Bottle of Wine?” features artworks and architectural projects from 44 individuals and collectives working in various mediums. Inspired by lines from Nigerian writer Akeem Lasisi’s poem, “A Song For Lagos,” the biennial’s title metaphorically addresses the waterways on which Lagos was founded, symbolizing the ambitious goals and challenges of urban transformation.

Many works in the exhibition explore the history and urban character of Lagos, with perspectives from artists residing in the city or engaging in residencies and research projects. Some projects delve into urban concerns worldwide. The cumulative effect positions Lagos as a focal point, serving as both a convener and a case study for examining the challenges and possibilities of contemporary built environments.

The exhibition’s venue, Independence House, serves as the biennial’s first project or spatial proposition. Commissioned by the British government in 1959 to commemorate Nigeria’s independence, the 25-story structure symbolized the country’s modern aspirations upon completion in 1963. Originally housing government offices, including the Ministry of Defense, the building was decommissioned in the mid-1990s and largely abandoned. The biennial occupies the first four floors, deliberately preserving traces of the site’s dilapidated history. The selection of Independence House aligns with the biennial’s mandate to use contemporary art to rejuvenate abandoned architectural sites and uncover their art historical significance, including original works by pioneering Nigerian artists.