7 female artists raise alarm on women's mental health

7 female artists raise alarm on women's mental health

By Prisca Sam-Duru

The Wheatbaker is proud to host the third edition of the all-female Standing Out exhibition
titled, UNMASKED, which is curated by SMO Contemporary Art and honors women across the globe.
Opening tomorrow, 11th March, UNMASKED presents the powerful and energized artwork of seven female artists who have strong links to
Lagos but come from different parts of Nigeria, Cameroon, the Gambia, India, and the United States: Nengi
Omuku, Djakou Kassi Nathalie, Somi Nwandu, Nyancho NwaNri, Koromone Koroye, Reha Shishodia and
Queen Nwaneri. The exhibition explores women’s mental health through 35 paintings, photographs, digital art,
ceramic sculptures, poetry & spoken word performance and a large multi-media string installation.
This year’s Standing Out exhibition departs a little from the highly publicized women’s issues such as lack of
access to education, gender based violence, and the need for economic equality, to delve in to the complex
world of women’s mental health which clearly impact their ability to fight for recognition and equality.
According to the World Health Organisation, over 7 million Nigerians suffer from depression and 4.8 million
Nigerians (2.7% of the population) suffer from anxiety disorders. World wide just 3% of total government
spending is for mental health.1 The UNMASKED exhibition is the brainchild of two emerging curators, Nneoma
Ilogu and Moni Oloke, who are both health professionals and have been focusing on art through their work at
SMO Contemporary Art.
“We believe that art is an important tool for advocacy and change in society,” the two curators explained during
the press preview. “We choose artists who have a strong message and presence, and could help to publicize
the need for society to focus on the mental well being of women.”
The exhibition explores complex questions of identity, breaking down stereotypes, and dealing with societal
pressures in the congested, over-populated mega-city of Lagos. The artists explore diverse emotional
mindscapes and question what lies behind the mask: how do we break down societal constructs on what it is
and what it takes to be a woman in a male dominated society? How do women explore and present their true
multi-layered selves, and inspire others to demand for justice, break through glass ceilings, avoid society’s
obsession with perfection, tear down walls of shame and guilt, and rip off these stifling emotional masks.
“UNMASKED is a bold and honest expose of what goes on within women’s mindscapes through the intricate
and emotionally charged work of these phenomenal artists,” said Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, Founder & Artistic
Director of SMO Contemporary Art, the Wheatbaker’s long standing art curator. “We are excited that the hotel
can advocate for better support for mental health in Nigeria by providing an important platform for these vital
issues to be addressed through art.”
UNMASKED runs from March 11th to May 4th, 2018 and is supported by Louis Guntrum, and the Wheatbaker