Ade Adekola is a Nigerian-born contemporary artist. His practice sits at the nexus of art, technology and culture. His images pose questions about shifting culture (migration and globalization). He obtained degrees in Architecture, in the early 90’s specializing in the design of responsive building systems.
Ade Adekola is a Nigerian-born contemporary artist. His practice sits at the nexus of art, technology and culture. His images pose questions about shifting culture (migration and globalization). He obtained degrees in Architecture, in the early 90’s specializing in the design of responsive building systems.
International acclaim for his designs led to art installations and exhibitions. Ade went on to study management, leading to a career as a management consultant specialising in transformation and innovation.
Spending several years in Silicon Valley he witnessed the digital transformation of photography. At this juncture Ade started to explore the transformative power offered by innovation. in photography. His enthusiasm was captured, and his experimental practice was born. Many of his early works were prescient of post internet photography and glitch art movements.
Moving back to Nigeria in 2005 his creative emphasis shifted; he started to create images that reframe and redefine the African Cultural narrative. For example, new expressions of traditional textiles, glittering gemstone photo mosaics from ethnographic statues, photo-montages of urban dwellers, iconic blur images of traditional festivals and optical kinetic pieces. His art is driven by probing society and culture. Ade views art as amedium for changing minds and perceptions.
In societies yawning for change of paradigms, his images are timely in elevating Contemporary African
photography. His works are optical inventions that explore new processes of image making. Typically, he emphasizes vibrant and electrifying colours.
Colour takes on a materialness in his work.
• It helps to render context amidst the multilayered images.
• It provides references which ground the viewer’s perception.
• It allows the viewer to enter realms of the unfamiliar guided by harmony, congruency and balance.
Ade produces his work in series, each with a district visual language. His “Transformations” are magnificent objects for sustained contemplation. They are commanding expressions that allow the connoisseurship of contemporary photography to thrive.
Ade lives in Lagos