The Weight of Being

Curated by Iramofu Oseh and Osho Oluwatimilehin

The Weight of Being grew from a simple but pressing thought we shared in early 2023, that to exist is to carry something. We carry memory, family, expectation, identity, and sometimes, the heavy resonance of silence. We recognized that being is not a weightless state; it has substance, texture, and gravity.

In conceptualizing this exhibition, we wanted to bring together artists who treat "weight" not necessarily as a burden, but as the very material of a life lived. Some of the works we’ve selected focus on the physical - the body, gesture, and the intimacy of touch. Others delve into the invisible - inheritance, the quiet labor of the everyday, and the steady pulse of emotional growth. Together, they create a space for the kind of honest reflection that is often lost in the noise of modern life.

At the heart of this exhibition, we have positioned the works of 10 artists whose artworks deeply resonate with the theme out of the 90 applications received. The finalists are Akinwale Badejo (painting), Samuel Oparinu (Sketching), Raphael Demehin (Illustration), Medeyonmi Akran (Fine art photography), Boluwaji Apanisile (Fine art photography), Oyebola Oyelowo (Fine art photography), Bukola Abiodun (Fine art photography), Makinde Ifeoluwa (Fine art photography), Olaniyi Atolagbe (Fine art photography), and Abiola Sanni (fine art photography).

Their works sit at the center of our conversation, each approaching the weight of existence from a deeply personal yet inherently universal angle. Some of the artworks anchor the show, while others bring essential color, texture, and perspective. Their contributions expand the dialogue, adding an emotional range and visual depth that strengthen the collective voice of the exhibition. We saw all the selected works as necessary layers that prevent the theme from being seen through a single lens.

As curators, we didn't set out to find a single answer to what it means to "be." Instead, we sought out multiple reflections, some layered and quiet, others bold and direct.

The Weight of Being is our invitation to you to pause, to look closely, and to consider for a moment: what do you carry, and how do you carry it?