Five Artists Explore Cultural Identity in “The Things That Make Us”

The relationship between cultural identity, memory and everyday life took centre stage at The Things That Make Us, a group exhibition held at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, from 18 to 24 September 2023. 

Featuring works by Tega Gbenedio, Amara Nwosu, Tobi Akinwale, Zainab Danjuma and Chidi Ezeanwu, the exhibition explored how ordinary objects, personal memories and artistic traditions shape our understanding of heritage and belonging.

Through photography, painting, mixed media, textiles and sculpture, the artists offered different perspectives on the ways people preserve their cultural roots while responding to changes in contemporary Nigerian society.

The exhibition featured a range of artistic practices, including photography by Tega Gbenedio, who photographed items in her home, such as clothing, family possessions and objects used in cultural ceremonies.

Gbenedio explored how ordinary things around us can capture our memories and preserve aspects of our families’ histories that might otherwise be forgotten.

Meanwhile, painter Amara Nwosu represented the theme through portraits and scenes of family gatherings. These painted interactions between different generations illustrated the importance of storytelling and shared experiences in sustaining customs.

Tobi Akinwale’s mixed media pieces incorporated elements from Nigerian newspapers, fabrics, paints and other objects. His work was inspired by the evolving nature of cities across Nigeria while acknowledging many of their longstanding traditions.

“My artwork explores the importance of clothing and craftsmanship through textiles and embroidery,” says Zainab Danjuma, who also used traditional designs in her creations, adapting them to fit more contemporary settings.

Sculptor Chidi Ezeanwu used wood, clay and other found objects inspired by domestic and ceremonial life.

Like Ezeanwu, many of the artists explored themes of origin and identity through familiar items such as food products, containers and clothing, using these objects to communicate ideas about ancestry, community and collective experience.

In addition to exploring questions of connection between ourselves and our past amid continuous change, the exhibition examined the impact of urbanisation, migration and evolving values among younger generations on longstanding customs.

The artworks explored how we preserve things that matter to us over time while creating opportunities for new expressions of who we are.

Each artist brought a unique perspective to different facets of Nigerian life, reflecting the diversity of a nation with many languages, histories and traditions.

Ultimately, The Things That Make Us explored the idea that culture is not always defined by grand ceremonies or historical records. Culture can be found in the clothes we wear, the stories our families tell, the objects we keep and the traditions we carry forward.