Artistic side of Nigeria, Ecuador displayed at photo exhibition

It is often said that art is life. It is the best form of human expression. For some, art is the first love.

So much so that many can leave everything to dream, and live the art. In 2017, the global art market was worth $45 billion. And so it was no surprise to see the fast-growing art community in Abuja converge on the Nordic Hotel to catch a glimpse of photographic art, thanks to Nimages photography productions in collaboration with the Ecuadorian embassy.

It featured the photographic works of a Nigerian and an Argentine photographer respectively. It is common to hear of people dedicating their lives to various genres of art. This event was no exception.

“I abandoned my calling in ICT, business, and accounting career to follow my passion – photography,” said Abayomi Akande, one of the co-photo exhibitionists.

“I couldn’t continue doing an eight-to-four job when I can bring society to life through my photos  at a glance.”

TheCable stumbled on one of his photos – Sunset at Ideato,

“I was shooting a documentary in Ideato, after we finished shooting, the sun was setting. Ideato I think is the highest point above sea level in south-eastern Nigeria,” he said.

“It’s usually cold and cloudy and it rains almost all the time, so after the documentary, I took the chance to have some good snapshots. The women are very hardworking as they go to the farms, go to church riding their motocycles.”

He plans to stage other art exhibitions in Abuja to show life outside the City centre.

Domitilla Modesti, chief executive of Nimages photography productions, told TheCable that she and Abayomi spent nine months to compile thirty photographs each depicting life in Nigeria and Ecuador.

“I was born and raised in Kaduna. Nigeria has been my home for years. Although I have been in and out of the country, it’s always home to me,” she said while showing a picture of the church in Vilcabamba central park, Ecuador.

“I collaborated with Abayomi. It took us three months to do the shooting. We just wanted to show a variety of thirty pictures each from both countries that match. They have a lot in common, and it’s just not because we have Afro-Ecuadorians. The vegetation, landscapes are also similar.”

Leopoldo Rovayo, Ecuador’s ambassador to Nigeria, said the event was aimed at strengthening  Nigerian – Ecuadorian ties, noting that there was no more realistic way to capture the lives of the people except through photographs.

The event was also supported by the Abuja Writers’ Association and the Ecuadorian state oil company Sertecpet.