NSEABASI Akpan discovered his love for photography quite early; although not really without challenges. When he finally got the ball rolling, he hadn’t looked back.
Today, Akpan has travelled by road from Nigeria to other West African countries. He has also travelled by road to East and Southern African countries, capturing unique photographs that tell the story of a people from different perspectives.
Not done, he has also visited Croatia, The Netherlands, Turkey, Czech, and many more, with future plans to explore Asia, the Caribbean and Oceania.
Recently, he curated the fourth edition of his annual photography exhibition, ‘Eyes of Hope,’ at the Alliance Francaise, Ibadan, where he brought together 16 artists from 12 countries.
Among the artists represented are Anett Acs (Hungary), Abubakar Sadiq Mustapha (Nigeria), Yutong Xie (China), Irena Paskali (Macedonia/Germany), Alake Olumide (Nigeria), Filip Wierzbicki-Nowak (Poland), Teddy Dzherekarova (Bulgaria), Koffi Djifa Seble (Togo), Michael Kazemi (Iran/South Korea), Katica Nisavic (Montenegro), Mohosin Kabir (Bangladesh), Ademola Bamigbelu (Nigeria), Star Luna (Jamaica/United Kingdom), Rob Godfried (The Netherlands), Sajedeh Jalali (Iran/Germany)Szilvia Mucsy (Hungary), with the works showcasing different perspectives from the artists’ world views.
Speaking during the exhibition, Akpan said he came up with the idea because he wanted to create a platform for photography artists to meet, relate, educate, empower and inspire people through their works.
“Everything I am doing boils down to the passion I have for photography and that is why I am trying to give back by bringing artists together so that they can inspire the future generation.
“Another positive thing about this exhibition is that people really want to come to Nigeria, people want to learn about us and see what they can also benefit here; although there are many negative news outside about the country, through events like this, people will know more about Nigeria.”
Although only few artists were physically present in the country for the exhibition, Akpan said next year, he hopes more people can visit the country to exhibit their works.
“This is one of the ways Nigeria can actually change the negative opinions about it in the global space. When artists from around the world come to the country and see how lovely, sociable and accommodating we are as a people, then they will begin spreading the message in their own little way that Nigerians are not who they are being negatively painted.”
Speaking on the theme, ‘Eyes of Hope,’ Akpan said the fourth edition of the exhibition seeks to capture the essence of hope in myriad forms and perspectives, uniting photographers from across the globe in a shared vision of resilience, optimism, and the unyielding human spirit.
“This year’s exhibition brings together both established and emerging talents, to explore the narratives that define our times.
“Through their lenses, we delve into stories of survival, adaptation, and the relentless pursuit of a brighter future.
“The images from the lenses of these artists are a testament to the power of art in bridging divides, fostering understanding and inspiring action, and as we navigate an era of unprecedented change, the photographs remind us of our shared humanity and the enduring hope that drives us forward.”
All the exhibited photographs focus on the viewpoints of the artisits, with most telling happenings in their environments.
For example, Mustapha’s works, ‘The World Around Us,’ showcases the effect of climate change in Northern Nigeria, while Acs, who is from Hungary, focuses on the existential insecurity of modern man. She says, “I search for the foundations of extremes, the boundaries that define us as humans and the limits that frame our existence.”
The success of the fourth edition sets the stage for the next, which is expected to have more international artists in attendance.
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