KELANI ABASS
Kelani Abass
Born in 1979, Kelani Abass lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria.
Kelani Abass explores in his work the importance of material heritage and the archive as a bridge between past and present. The photographic image appears to be the starting point of a multilayered plastic work.
Being both a creative medium and a memory object, the picture happens to be dissected and analyzed in its multiple potentials. For his three-dimensional works, the artist mixes original or painted ancient photographic portraits, metallic typefaces and other elements from the world of printing. The work on memory and the importance of archives takes another shape in his graphic pieces: as he multiplies numbered stampings marks on sheets of paper, Kelani Abass proposes a new comprehension of the image.
The artist thus brings to light these fragile and personal testimonies of a bygone era of a Nigeria celebrating its independence. The image, studied through its making – its “factory”, reveals its ability to hold and store memory – a multiple, fragmented memory, reassembled, rewritten by the hands of the artist.
Trained at the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Kelani Abass had exhibited in Nigeria and internationally. Recent solo exhibitions include [Re:] Entanglements, Contemporary Art and Colonial Archives, National Museum Lagos in 2019 and if I could save time at CCA Lagos in 2019. In 2020, he has been selected to present his work at the 5th International Biennale Casablanca. Kelani Abass has taken part in several residencies and workshops including Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco, California and Malt Air, Maltfabrikken, Ebetoft Denmark.
GROUP SHOWS - Selection
2021
5th International Biennale, Casablanca – Maroc
2020
« Three Borders », Palace of Lome – Togo
2019
« No Room for Fear », SMO Contemporary art, London – UK
« Contemporaries II », SMO Contemporary art, Lagos – Nigeria
2018
« Gallery of Small Things », CCA Lagos, Dakar – Senegal
2017
« Ori Meta, Odun Meta, Ibikan », ISCP, New York – USA
2016
« Shades of Time », National Museum, Onikan, Lagos – Nigeria
2016
« Ori Meta, Odun Meta, Ibikan », CCA, Lagos – Nigeria
2014
« Painting the Cliché », Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg – Austria
2014
« Art for Peace », African Union, Addis Ababa – Ethiopia
Damla Art House, Istanbul – Turkey
Waldorf Astoria, New York – USA
2012
« Live Constructions. Time. Form. Daily », CCA, Lagos – Nigeria
2012
« Convergence, Svengali Designs », Omenka Gallery, Lagos – Nigeria
2010
« City of a Thousand Masks, Caterina de Medici/3rd Black Heritage Exhibition », Nike Art Gallery, Lagos – Nigeria
2005
« Within Our Grasp », National Museum, Lagos – Nigeria
2002
« God of this age », Didi Museum, Lagos – Nigeria
SOLO SHOWS
2019
« Re-entanglements », Contemporary art and Colonial History, National Museum, Lagos – Nigeria
2016
« If I could save time », CCA, Lagos – Nigeria
« Aso Igba, Art Clip Africa», Lagos – Nigeria
2013
« Asiko-evoking personal narratives and collective history, CCA », Lagos – Nigeria
2011
« Man & Machine », Omenka Gallery, Lagos – Nigeria
2009
« Paradigm Shift », Mydrim Gallery, Lagos – Nigeria
ARTFAIRS - Selection
2020
Art Paris Art Fair, 31 project, Paris – France
2019
Also Known As Africa, Nil Gallery, Paris – France
1.54 London, SMO Contemporary art, London – UK
2018
Art X Lagos, Arthouse Contemporary, Lagos – Nigeria
1.54 London, SMO Contemporary art, London – UK
2017
African Culture & Design Festival, Lagos – Nigeria
2014
FNB Joburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre – South Africa
2012
Joburg Art Fair, Sandton Convention Centre – South Africa
2010
Art Expo, 4th International Art Expo Nigeria, National Museum, Lagos – Nigeria
2008
Art Expo, 3rd International Art Expo Nigeria, National Museum, Lagos – Nigeria
WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES - Selection
2020
Malt Air, Maltfabrikken, Ebetoft – Denmark
2018
Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco – USA
2014
Salzburg International Summer Academy, « Painting the cliché » – Austria
2013
Professional Development Workshop for artists, CCA, Lagos – Nigeria
2012
4 Weeks International art residency, History/Matter with CCA, Lagos – Nigeria
2010
2 Weeks Residency Programme by CCA and Triangle Workshop – Nigeria
AWARDS
2016
The 2016 Achievers Alumni’s Excellence Award, Yaba College of Technology
2014
Distinguished Artists, Society of Nigerian Artist, Lagos Chapter
2010
First Prize winner, Caterina de Medici/3rd Black Heritage
International Painting Competition
EDUCATION
2007
Yaba College of Technology, Lagos - Nigeria
Higher National Diploma (painting)
2004
Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria
National Diploma (Arts)