When the old meets the new

The Netherlands based PAPA is currently visiting Lagos, as a guest of the African Artists’ Foundation. PAPA is an artist’s press agency in its developmental stages, and aims to create a worldwide network of artists/correspondents who will record, create, and manufacture news by taking action. In the last three weeks the PAPA lab which is […]

The Netherlands based PAPA is currently visiting Lagos, as a guest of the African Artists’ Foundation. PAPA is an artist’s press agency in its developmental stages, and aims to create a worldwide network of artists/correspondents who will record, create, and manufacture news by taking action.

In the last three weeks the PAPA lab which is the formative stage of the project has been working closely with a selected group of Nigerian photographers on subjects like introduction in the PAPA methodology, exploring themes, and recording news on the streets of Lagos.

In the process of several exploratory “Wild Walks” in the city, the group identified and recorded news in categories such as Mobile Shops, Businesses, Homes/Bedrooms, Public Prayer Grounds and impromptu Street Installations. Popular Nigerian acronyms like Please Hold Candle at Night (PHCN) and On Your Own (OYO) were also used to frame news items. This is a phenomenon that PAPA will be export worldwide, as it teaches how to tackle difficult news items with humour or satire.

Meanwhile the AAF has called for entries for the FADAN art competition tagged Fashion design’. The expo which is sponsored by Vlisco will showcase paintings, new media, photography and sculpture which should have been sent in, in Jpeg format by October 23.

According to the AAF, winners will be announced, November 1st at the Lagos Civic Centre as the first winner receives a cash prize of 500euros from the Royal Dutch Embassy.