With a Sense of Defiance, Artists Cry for Breath

The Life City Art Festival in Lagos showcased the work of 62 talented artists, including Oluwashina Sulaimon, who had a profound epiphany during a rainy day at a bus stop in Ibadan. This moment sparked a realization about the need for change and the hypocrisy in society.

The festival's theme, "Breathe," took on a haunting significance in light of recent events like the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd. The exhibition in Lagos was part of a series of regional exhibitions planned across the country, with a grand finale in Enugu in October.

Artists like Victoria Somawine and Rebecca Obiageli Madu found the theme of "Breathe" deeply resonant, reflecting on personal struggles and ancestral roots. The festival also included an art competition with a grand prize named after the late Elder Kalu Uke Kalu, offering a total of 60 million naira in prizes to contestants.

The festival aimed to provide a platform for artists to.