In a joint initiative by the Guest Artist Space Foundation (G.A.S.) and the Yinka Shonibare Foundation (Y.S.F.), the winners of the second G.A.S. Fellowship Award have been revealed. The three exceptional individuals chosen for this prestigious award are Amanda Iheme, Kosisochukwu Nnebe, and Ojo Taiye.
The 2023 edition of the fellowship invited applications from emerging creative practitioners residing in the West African region, spanning various disciplines. The focus was on works rooted in Materiality, Ecology, Food, Environment, and History in the present.
The judging panel commended the wealth of talent, quality, and diversity found in the artistic practices presented during the selection process. Two of the winners will undertake their residencies at G.A.S. Lagos, while the third will have a unique opportunity to conduct research and create at the G.A.S. Ecology Green Farm in Ijebu.
Amanda Iheme
Amanda Iheme, an architecture photographer and psychotherapist based in Lagos, Nigeria, is a Bachelor’s degree holder in Psychology from the University of Cape Coast. She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Swansea University. Amanda’s artistic focus lies in documenting and preserving Nigeria’s architectural heritage, celebrating design, history, and culture. Her work has been featured in notable exhibitions, including ‘Dis Lagos Life,’ ‘This is Lagos,’ and ‘Time Has Gone.’ Amanda is set to complete her residency at G.A.S. Lagos.
Kosisochukwu Nnebe
Kosisochukwu Nnebe, a conceptual artist, draws inspiration from postcolonial and Black feminist thinkers. Working across installation, lens-based media, and sculpture, Nnebe engages with topics ranging from the politics of Black visibility to the use of foodways as counter-archives of colonial histories. Nnebe’s practice is rooted in building an anti-colonial and anti-imperial world through acts of solidarity and speculative (re)imaginings of pasts, presents, and futures. Kosisochukwu will complete the fellowship at the G.A.S. Farm House.
Ojo Taiye
Ojo Taiye, a Nigerian eco-artivist, cultural worker, and writer, channels his frustrations with society through poetry. His collaborative practice addresses climate change, homelessness, migration, racism, black identity, and mental health. Ojo’s poems have been published in various prestigious publications, and he has actively contributed to climate-related projects and conferences. Ojo’s debut mixed media installation was exhibited in Linz, Austria, as part of the Ars Electronica Festival, 2023. He is set to complete his residency at G.A.S. Lagos.
This announcement follows the G.A.S. Foundation’s commitment to facilitating international cultural exchange and fostering creative and research practices through impactful residencies and collaborations. The previous edition of the G.A.S. Fellowship included notable recipients such as Laeïla Adjovi, Sarafadeen Bello, Olorunfemi Johnson, Samuel Nnorom, Tobi Onabolu, Ofem Ubi, and Uzor Ugoala.
