Welcome to Ada Dike's Blog: Akinleye holds solo exhibition 'Each Passing Day' in Lagos

Monday 27 April 2015

Akinleye holds solo exhibition 'Each Passing Day' in Lagos

Akinleye

Crowded pedestrian bridge

It is generally believed that a picture tells a million stories. Each passing day, spectacular events take place in different parts of the country, but it takes someone with an eagle’s eyes to use his camera to capture them.

One of the few great photo journalists in Nigeria, whose photos have told unforgettable stories, Akintunde Akinleye, showcased his works in Lagos last week Sunday, April 19, 2015 and the exhibition attracted people from all walks of life.

Tagged: “Each passing Day’, the solo exhibition unveiled Akintunde’s documentation of Nigeria in his 15-year-old career in photojournalism. The exhibition is also classified to mirror a number of separate phenomenon and daily activities of the Nigerian citizens.

Crucial to his documentation of the post military era in Nigeria, are the trials, tribulations and joys of Nigerian citizens as they struggle to achieve a better standard of living. Some of the pictures are mostly about social, political and physical landscape of Nigeria.

Also, some of the images were taken out from different documentary projects and spot news events, but motivated by the Nigerian space during the last decade and now. Each Passing Day showcased a review of Akintunde’s style, good taste for aesthetics and activism.

Speaking on why he’s showcasing his works, Akintunde said, although he has exhibited some of his works in many countries of the world, the current exhibition is his major show. “I needed to showcase my works to people because most of them don’t know my works. For example, there is a picture I took in 2006 and I saw it somewhere and was angry. There was an argument over its owner. That is how the urge to exhibit my works was born.”

Commenting on Akintunde works, the Acting Head, Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos, Mrs. Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, said the exhibition shows that hard work pays. “Akintunde has done photojournalism for 15 years and we have not had this kind of outing before. They have concluded an arrangement and told him that the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited wanted to sponsor his solo exhibition. That confirms what we teach people in school that hard work pays. While one is working, people are watching. He’s doing his work and enjoying himself and giving his best to his profession and people were watching. Today, they are all glad. The turn-out is quite impressive. We should be proud of our own and we should continue to promote the works of our own,” said.

Generally, a lot of prefer to attend events and take societal photographs, but Akintunde’s works are unique, what is your take on that? She was asked. “Some people in different professions are jobbers, while a few have the calling. Of course, Akintunde has the calling. People will take your photograph, print it, give it to you and expect gratification. You can see that his works are quite different. Let’s do our jobs with passion. I am a teacher, I love teaching and I give it my all. I know too well that he loves his job. Anything photography, Akin is there. His photographs tell you stories. Let us love our jobs. If you are in a profession because of pecuniary gains, you are not likely to go far,” Ogwezzy-Ndisika added.

Also speaking on Akintunde’s works, the Director of Omenka Gallery, Mr. Oliver Enwonwu, stated that he was not expecting anything less. “Akintunde is a brilliant photographer. He is respected all over the world. He is operating at the peak of his profession and his works are very impressive. He documents everyday living and iconic events including explosions in different parts of Nigeria. Some of these things are taken for granted but he is doing his works in a powerful way which brings us to think about these things. His photographs are award-winning works. It shows that photography is carving its niche in the Nigerian art market and space,” he emphasized.

Born in 1971, Akintunde is the first Nigerian Photographer to have been awarded a prize in the prestigious World Press Photo, Netherlands in 2007 with an iconic photograph of a man rinsing soot from his face at the scene of an oil pipeline explosion in Lagos, December 2006. It was the beauty of a tragedy which claimed the lives of 269 people that made the official signage of the 19th edition of international photojournalism festival in Perpignan, France in 2007.
An award fellow of the National Geographic Society- All Roads photo project, Akintunde has attended conferences and seminars in editorial and documentary photography in Ethiopia, Kenya and Lagos. He has made presentations of his work and papers at the University of Stanford in the United States, Amsterdam and other major cities around the world.

In June 2008, while attending a fellowship programme at the University of Texas at Dallas artistes' project, he produced a body of work that culminates oil production in Texas. He was a resident fellow of the Thami Mnyele Art foundation in Amsterdam.

In 2012, Akintunde was nominated for Prix Pictet photography award on sustainability for his work : Delta, A vanishing wetland.
He has read for two master's degrees in Educational Technology and Mass Communication at the University of Lagos and a post-graduate diploma in Journalism at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, after a Bachelor's degree in Social Studies.

Akintunde has had his work exhibited in Washington, Los Angeles, New Mexico, Lagos, Amsterdam, Graz, Bamako, Madrid, Munich, U.K and Pordenone in Italy. He had once been commissioned for assignments in Mauritania, Niger and Nigeria and currently pursues projects in African culture and traditions!

He lives in Lagos and works for Reuters in Nigeria.

The exhibition was powered by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited and Lagos photo, among others.
Below, are some of the photographs being showcased at the exhibition which kicked off on Sunday, 19, 2015 at red Door Gallery, Bishop Oluwole Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, and will end on May 3, 2015.