Born in 1979, 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.
KELANI ABASS
CURRICULUM VITAE
GROUP SHOWS - Selection
2021
Cinquième Biennale Internationale de Casablanca – Morocco
2020
Art Paris art fair, 31 PROJECT, Paris – France
Three Borders, Palais de Lome - Togo
2019
No Room for Fear, SMO Contemporary art, Londres – United Kingdom
2018
Contemporaries II, SMO Contemporary art, Lagos - Nigeria
Gallery of Small Things, CCA Lagos, Dakar - Senegal
2017
Ori Meta, Odun Meta, Ibikan, ISCP, New York - United States of America
2016
Shades of Time, National Museum, Onikan, Lagos - Nigeria
Ori Meta, Odun Meta, Ibikan, CCA, Lagos - Nigeria
2014
Painting the Cliche, Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzbourg - Austria
Art for Peace, African Union, Addis Ababa- Ethiopia, then Damla Art House, Istanbul - Turkey et Waldorf Astoria, New York - United States of America
2012
Live Constructions. Time. Form. Daily, CCA, Lagos - Nigeria
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
2021
1-54 Paris, 31 PROJECT, Paris – France
2020
Iranti, 31 PROJECT, Paris – France
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
2019
Also Known As Africa, Nil Gallery, Paris - France
1:54 London, SMO Contemporary art, London - United Kingdom
2018
Art X Lagos, Arthouse Contemporary, Lagos - Nigeria
1:54 London, SMO Contemporary art, London - United Kingdom
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 Nigéria, National Museum, Lagos - Nigeria
2008
Art Expo, 3rd International Art Expo Nigéria, National Museum, Lagos - Nigeria
WORKSHOPS AND RESIDENCIES - Selection
2020
Malt Air, Maltfabrikken, Ebetoft - Denmark
2018
Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco - United States of America
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 Artists, 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 (peinture)
2004
Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria
National Diploma (Art Général)
WITH 31 PROJECT
PUBLICATIONS
2020
EXHIBITIONS
2020
SMALL, group show
ÌRÁNTÍ, solo show, with catalogue
ARTFAIRS
2021
1-54, Paris, solo show
2020
Art Paris Art Fair, group show