The human condition of the eccentric AJ

The orbit of curators is at its peak due to the successes of Hans Ulrich Obrist, Cecilia Alemani, Osei Bonsu, Joseph Awuah-Darko and locally Dolly Kola-Balogun and Folakunle Oshun. Curating in its contemporaneity requires an unprecedented level of ingenuity, there’s also ambiguity and diversity with the term spanning content curators, lifestyle curators, gallery managers, cultural directors and artifacts custodians.

Curators are custodians of culture and history, as such curators can wear many hats.

This clearly defines AJ, the Abuja Curator on the rise. He navigates the art world with 15 years of experience which was a layered experimentation in fine arts. His education includes a 4 year stint in ABU.

His decision to study fine art professionally stemmed from his interest in architecture, which is why he would describe himself as visually stimulated. His first 2 years he sculpted while learning historical analysis.

His third year was dedicated to fine art and art history which became his area of specialization.

There was a lot of personal development at ABU for AJ. The rich history made him feel like he was a part of something bigger.

The ripple effect is often noticed by his sartorial preference and the studious air through which he carries himself.

The human condition which refers to profound moments in life such as emotions, conflict and death formed the central theme of his first exhibition.

The entire body of work displayed at the Dolapo Obat’s gallery Abuja were all developed within two weeks. The creative process, fueled by a need to make people feel music, thereby providing a sense of calmness.
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To properly translate this for the artists who exhibited, they worked with a Jon Bellion album with the same title.

A coordinated musical synergy between the artists and the curator to create emotionally stimulating pieces. The rotating cast were Safiya Adams whose “brace yourself” is of a woman in green like the universe with pink stormy clouds around her and she has control or enough power to send shock waves or strike with lightning.
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King David’s “overwhelmed” is of a singular presence, a faceless skin simply the glowing anatomy of a man who ponders in solitude. A second striking piece by King David is his “Good in me” which is of a faceless female war angel, aglow in muscle and membrane as she holds a fatally injured lover.
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For Mumu the Illustrator, his “guillotine” piece features floating lovers in a surrealist style much similar to a Dali. However, instead of a puddle reflection, the twin replica is between an actual guillotine, the metaphorical resonances unmissed as their clothes turn into a celebratory burst of confetti.

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Umi-Amarah Ibrahim’s “hand of God” speaks to helplessness with little messages saying don’t lose faith.

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For AJ curating is to make a piece more digestible so it can be appreciated better. The Human condition exhibition was a visual representation of music. “Guillotine” and “All Time Low” are among this curators favorites visible in the melancholy surrounding the digital art he is focused on promoting. Jonathan has successfully created a physical space for digital artists, who are often in a shell.

The art galleries which stand out the most to him in Abuja are Moeshen, Orisun, Windsor & Retro Africa due to the natural light & curation of words. Subsequently devotees of AJ can expect the beauty of Abuja to be reflective in his future art projects.

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