The fifth edition of Art X Lagos in 2020 was done online only for the reasons of the Coronavirus Pandemic and the ENDSARS protest that later occurred in the country a few days before the launch of the international fair.
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Even though the solely virtual fifth edition made it possible to have more events and increased participation, the full potential of Art X Lagos could not have been experienced in the absence of a physical fair.
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Starting from the 3rd of November, lovers of art especially African art get the opportunity to encounter Art X Lagos by being both physically and virtually present at the Federal Palace Hotel and ARTXLAGOS.COM/ARTSY.
Ticket sales continue to soar. It was #3000 on the 31st of October 2021 and as of the time of publishing this article, tickets have increased to #5000. They are highly in demand and can nobody knows when ticket sales would close.
Get your Art X Lagos 2021 tickets here NOW
The first time Art X Lagos is officially taking such form as against last year when the fifth edition was completely VIRTUAL due to the coronavirus pandemic and ENDSARS protest that caused chaos in the hosting city: Lagos.
Although the prestigious art fair takes place physically for four days until the 7th of November 2021, the online fair lasts from the launch date till the 21st of November 2021.
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Tokini Peterside; Founder and Director Art X Lagos
It is not surprising to hear Art X Lagos referred to as The frieze of West Africa. In the list of top 10 art fairs or festivals in Africa, Art X lagos would be amongst the top 5. Art X Lagos would be number 1 when the list is restricted to West Africa.
While this chart can be debated or disputed as the case may be, there can be no argument when one says that Art X Lagos is West Africa’s Premier International Art Fair; the foremost art festival in West Africa.
If that is not enough reason to attend the sixth edition of the international art fair this year, there are so many others carefully thought that have been gathered and compiled in this article.
Image from ENDSARS protest taken by Etinosa Yvonne, 2020 Winner Art X Price
The following are reasons you should take part in the 2021 Art X Lagos “the restful ones are not yet born”
Prepares you for the future:
Art X Lagos gives curators, collectors, and gallery executives an idea of the kind of works that would be on-demand and upcoming masterpieces in the year ahead. This in return guides galleries and collectors on what to exhibit and collect in exhibitions in time to come.
Equips you:
This sixth edition is sure to prepare your mind as an art lover, stakeholder, gallery owner, collector, curator, and exhibition director on the important topics of discourse that concern art and Africa.
Areas of discourse concerning art, the continent of Africa, challenges, and solutions to political, continental, and artistic matters arising in Africa would be presented through four projects: Curated; Future Africa – “an exploration of the challenges that arise when thinking about the future state of the continent by David Alabo and Adeola Olagunju”; Unfolding Layers of Time – “award-winning artist Kelani Abass’ direct response to our curatorial theme”. Interactive; We Are Here “which brings together the Kaduna-based film collective The Critics, and the Lagos-based sound collective The Village Sound System, teaming up with ART X Lagos’ daily audience to develop an interactive narrative space”.
The Art X Talks session this year would look at creating a more collective and diverse possibility for the future. One who has previously attended the Art X Talks can attest to the wisdom and insights that are shared from a variety of speakers carefully selected from around the world.
Unlike previous editions of Art X Lagos Physical fairs where an invitation or ticket is required to gain entry into the Art X Talks session, this year you can register to watch online at the comfort of your home without the cost of a ticket, transportation fare, or flight ticket.
Register for Art X Talks here
The topics of discourse include: BEYOND COLLECTING: BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM, THE DANGER OF A SINGLE STORY; THE POWER OF THE ARCHIVE AND ITS LIMITS; ART X LAGOS AND THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN ART PRESENT “TASTE! TRANSFORMATION”; THE FUTURE IS NOW; ART X NFTS: SPECULATIVE FUTURES.
The panelists for each Art X Talk session are renowned names in the African art industry such as Prince Yemisi Shyllon, Kavita Chellaram, Kelani Abass, etc. with sponsored from reputable institutions around the world.
Special presentation for a late pioneer:
This year, Art X Lagos has in store something special for a special being Yusuf Grillo who died on the 23rd of August, 2021. This special part of the exhibition has been announced to be organized by kó (Lagos, Nigeria). If you are a fan of the late pioneer, I can bet that you would want to witness what Art X Lagos has planned.
Art X Lagos leads the way in the showcase of the attitude of celebration and appreciation of the existence and career of personalities who have contributed immensely to the expansion of art from what it used to be to where it is now and what it was underrated to be. In 2019, the international art fair dedicated a part of the Art X Talk The Progress of Love: Bisi Silva Remembered to the late renowned curator.
Display of the changing image of Africa:
Different African artists around the world are changing the narratives and setting records at home and in the diaspora. This year, Art X Lagos 2021 involves talk sessions that have been centered around understanding the creative and artistic past of Africans in line with the experiences of today.
Distinctive projects like Art Across Borders feature four contemporary artists around Africa to bring into perspective with a short film to present inspirational figures in the African Art Scene and motive the increase of impactful creatives.
Nft Exploration:
It is always eye-catching that Art X Lagos is flexible to rapidly incorporating the newest shifts in the global art world or society into the program of the international fair. Seeing that NFTs are one of the major swings currently rocking the art universe.
Therefore, it is interesting to know that ART X Lagos 2021 will feature a compilation of nfts from the continent of Africa which will include an exploration of NFT by African artists to be curated by Papa Omotayo and AWCA. If you have been looking to have your eyes on what and how Africans are taking advantage of the NFT, register to attend now.
Art X Live has a new face:
Art X Live this year would be on a strictly “ watch online” basis for the majority of youths around the world who would have trooped down to Federal Palace Hotel if the organizers of Art X Laos had not been influenced by the rude presence of Coronavirus Pandemic.
Art X Live is the most interactive and attractive part of Art X Live for foreigners, tourists, music lovers, and youths. A reputation Coronavirus cannot destroy. Teni, Buju, Vector, Simi, Wavy The Creator, and Mr. Eazi have all graced the Art X Live stage. This year, the organizers are set to blow the audience’s minds with the concept planned for the execution of the Sixth Edition Art X Live.
Reserve a virtual seat for the Sixth Edition Art X Live here
When it comes to Art X Lagos Art X Live, nothing is predictable and this year is not going to be different. This year’s Art X Live is a must to participate in for followers who missed the Art X Live party last year.
This sixth season, the “best of last year’s blockbuster performance film” will be displayed along with music from the best emerging artists led by Loray Jay including an invitation into the creative processes and influences of the artists.
The following are other reasons you should attend The frieze of West Africa Art X Lagos 2021 Edition
Networking:
Even though there would be a virtual fair this year, you can agree when it is said that networking is only adequately exploited when it happens face-to-face in person. Art X Lagos is one sure location where you have access to international art stakeholders, continental gallery curators, and art industry executives who you would normally not have physical means to, not excluding discussing art matters with masters like Yinka Shonibare and the list is endless.
If the ticket deadlines are not closed, you can get your get ticket here to attend physically starting from Saturday and Sunday 6th and 7th November respectively. The tickets are also time-based. Therefore, you should check out the ticket page now before the best time of entry convenient for you have been sold out.
Catch up with and Connect with the latest art innovations/fashion trends in the streets of Lagos and the world:
Latest fashion trends;
This year is expected to be more fashion spectacular. Since most people have not really had the opportunity to show off their best dresses. For the reason that there are few events since the breakout of Covid19.
Art X Lagos is sure to expose you to the latest trends in African and foreign fashion. It almost looks like a fashion show out there every other year.
Latest Art Innovations;
An artist who sells is one who can create something that excels beyond what the art community has seen.
However, you can’t beat the expectation that has already been set if you are not up to date with the latest.
One of the places to catch up with the latest art trends is by visiting international art fairs and ART X Lagos is the closest to one that we have in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa.
Listening to the Art X Talk session; taking in the wisdom of thought-leaders and innovators invited to participate in each discussion session helps you as an artist to identify the revolution, modernization, or method going on in the art world.
Art X Lagos is a venue to gather indications on where the art world is heading. As an artist, Art X Lagos gives you the opportunity to learn and access yourself to a feasible extent as you see the works of other A-list artists.
Each year, month, day, and even by the hour art, the art world changes shape just like the cravings of art lovers and stakeholders. Since Art X Lagos accommodates over 5,000 visitors from different regions all over the world, there is no doubt you would gain on the next best thing as everyone is eager to talk with everyone else at art fairs.
Art x lagos is the place to be if as an emerging artist you are stuck on what next to create or where to draw inspiration from. For it has since its inception in 2016 become the home of numerous international galleries around the world and artists in the diaspora.
All the attendees do not just come to exhibit, network, and sell. But to show off how the colors, ideas, methods, artistic subjects, and approaches in art creation have evolved in their domain.