Following a two-month call for entries, Thought Pyramid Art Centre recently unveiled the 20 finalists for the eighth edition of its juried art project, Next of Kin (NOK) S8.

According to the Exhibition Director and initiator of the project, Mr. Ovie Omatsola, this year’s call saw a surge in international interest, as it received entries from London, South Africa, and Nigeria, along with applications from the African Diaspora across the globe.

The 20 finalists selected for the exhibition stage include, Adetoro Debas, Ahmed Adeleke Sadiq, Chimzuroke Ogbuagu, Dumbor Kkemgbara Debeeh, Elijah Imisioluwa Adegbite, Emmanuel Cyril Ekong, Emmanuel Gbenga Eweje, Emmanuel Merit Adeyeye, Gugulethu Brendan Ndlalani (South Africa), Hamed Qozeem Olamilekan, Ifeanyichukwu Joy Munachimso, and Joseph Odeh Ogbole.

Others are Julius Ojomugbo Odah, Michael Oluwatomileyin Shorunke, Progress Jesutomiwa Giwa, Taiwo Taoheed Olawale, Theophilus Chinonso Agunwa, Tosin Paul Ajayi and Zayyad Abdulkadr.

They will showcase their works in a grand exhibition running from April 5 to May8.

This edition has a thought-provoking theme,Fragments of Being,which calls emerging visual artists to explore the shifting identities and changing human conditions that define the times.

Omatsola said so many things have been happening recently with people suddenly changing and taking up new characters. “Many have forgotten who they are, so we thought to see how our visual artists can interpret that through research,” he noted.

The unveiling also featured a mentoring session, reflecting the project’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of African masters. The session was led by two distinguished industry voices, Dr. Adeola Balogun and Olatoye David.

In his presentation, titled, The Art of Endurance: Sustainability Of Career and Creative Vision, Balogun of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, urged the young artists to tell their stories genuinely from their heart, adding that “no one can tell it better than you.

Enjoy what you are doing as this will keep you going. This is one way of telling yourself the truth. Also, volunteering is one way to learn and grow network particularly with the masters.”

Balogun asked the artists to find their voice and work like the deaf, adding that they must be authentic and consistent as consistency breeds authenticity.

“Know your area of strength, seek mentors and explore it, seek the ecosystems that provide consistent constructive feedback, how do you manage your studio? You are a CEO of your business, exploit the power of social-media and be presentable and always show up,” he said.

“At the beginning, you have to nurture your art and later, your art will compensate you profoundly. In the fullness of time, your dedication and integrity will manifest in your work without an iota of hesitation.

“Don’t build a career as a monument; build it as an ecosystem. Monuments weather and crack, but ecosystem evolve and thrive through every season,” he added.

David, who did a presentation, titled, The Art of Standing Out: Becoming A New Vanguard in The Global Art Stage,said: “You cannot be in a space where there are lots of people and you want to claim to be all. You need to stand out. It’s also knowing your true self and not also being like another person. You must stay long enough to develop a path as well as finding your language and colours that promote you standing out. The proper language of art will help you stand out too. Consistency is also part of creating or sustaining a new vanguard.

The language is what the global art scene listens to and you must speak with your works. Don’t rush to be seen and never be in a hurry to achieve your goal.”

Since it was inaugurated in 2018, it has been created to plan and prepare the future of visual art in Nigeria by discovering from the hoard of current emerging visual artists- one who possesses that peculiar artistic originality and creative disruptiveness with transcending futuristic abilities and traits.