As Nigeria’s first international photographic art festival, LagosPhoto has established itself as a key event on both the African and global art scenes. The festival has paved the way for many photographers from diverse backgrounds, offering them a valuable platform to showcase their talent. For its 15th edition, LagosPhoto is evolving into an ambitious new format, transforming itself from a simple art fair into a photography biennale. Scheduled for 2025, the biennial will focus on the poignant theme of “ Incarceration ”, reaffirming the festival’s commitment to nurturing and supporting the artistic community.
Building on its successful expansion into Benin in 2023, the festival is committed to offering an enriching and inclusive biennial experience. Organized by the African Artists’ Foundation (AAF), this new format aims to strengthen the artistic community through workshops, seminars and educational platforms, fostering the development of artistic practices. LagosPhoto 2025 promises to be not only a showcase for contemporary photography, but also a catalyst for exchange and reflection on the challenges of our time.
With this transformation, the festival intends to become a space where art and social engagement come together, promoting a vital dialogue around issues that affect and impact contemporary societies.
“Incarceration”: the LagosPhoto 2025 biennial takes shape !
Scheduled for 2025, the 15th edition of LagosPhoto, which will also mark its first biennial, will focus on the evocative theme of “ Incarceration ”. The biennial promises to host a series of exhibitions, workshops, large-scale installations and panel discussions, highlighting photographic works that explore the multiple layers of confinement. It will offer a critical reflection on the forces, both visible and invisible, that restrict human freedom and expression in contemporary society.
By addressing the various dimensions of incarceration, the theme will go beyond the idea of physical imprisonment to probe the insidious complexities of intellectual, psychological and social confinement. With this in mind, artistic director Azu Nwagbogu points out, “ While traditional notions of imprisonment conjure up images of cells and sentences, this theme explores the less obvious forms of captivity that permeate contemporary society. ”
At a time when digital technology is shaping our lives, society is also increasingly alienated by the panoptic influence of social networks, whose relentless surveillance shapes our perceptions, attitudes and norms. From intellectual conditioning by obsolete beliefs, to the incarceration of identities by stigmatizing labels and narratives, to the isolation induced by architectural and national boundaries, the 15th edition of LagosPhoto will showcase artists whose visual narratives dare to defy these shackles.
The biennial promises to be a space for powerful reflection on current realities, while opening the way to bold visions of a liberated future. It thus invites visitors to envision new possibilities, rethink established norms and engage in a dialogue about freedom in an ever-changing world.
Call for entries
The LagosPhoto 2025 curatorial team, under the direction ofAzu Nwagbogu, will be made up of talented curators from across Africa. According to the programming, a call for applications is open, inviting photographers to submit their portfolios for the opportunity to participate in a series of curatorial workshops and mentoring sessions to take place in November and December 2024.
Programming will focus on the biennial’s theme, allowing participants to explore issues related to this subject while developing unique and meaningful works. In addition, a special request will be addressed to five selected candidates, who will be invited to create original and exclusive pieces specifically for LagosPhoto 2025.
NB: Applications to take part in the 15th edition of LagosPhoto are open until December 02, 2024.