The Faculty of Creative Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG), on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, hosted a solo exhibition by Bjørg Elttør, an exchange student from HFBK University of Fine Arts, Hamburg, Germany.
Titled: Spectacle Expected to Expire, the exhibition marked the conclusion of a five-month academic and cultural immersion in sculpture, textile art, and photography. The event drew staff, students, and members of the public to the Lagoon Art Gallery, all eager to see the outcomes of the cultural exchange.
Commitment to Cross-Cultural Learning
Declaring the exhibition open, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Services), Professor ‘Muyiwa Falaiye, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, OON, FAS, commended Elttør’s commitment to cross-cultural learning. He also appreciated the Dean of the Faculty of Creative Arts, Prof Stephen Olusoji; Head, Department of Applied Arts, Dr John Adenle; and the entire Faculty for their support.
“My impression is that spending five months immersed in Nigerian art, cloth-making, and cloth-dyeing is highly commendable,” the DVC said. “What we have here may appear simple, but within that simplicity lies complexity in the use of Adire and dye motifs. I am deeply impressed by what has been accomplished in such a short period.”
Describing the collaboration as essential to the peace and focus that artistic production demands, Professor Falaiye added: “Opportunities like this show that Nigeria possesses extraordinary creative talent ready to be shared with the world.”
Five-month immersionYields Breathtaking Adire, Batik and Sculpture
Elttør then guided guests through a body of work spanning wax-resist dyeing, tie-dye, batik, drawing, sculpture, and photography. Each medium reflected a different stage of her time on campus, documenting an artist learning a new visual language from the Applied Arts community that mentored her.
The centrepiece, a wax-resist dyed mural titled “In the Beginning, We Were All Aliens,” offered the clearest expression of that journey. Made by tracing the bodies of the artist and her collaborators onto fabric as resist masks, the galaxy-like work is a meditation on shared human identity, a theme echoed throughout the exhibition.
The thread of personal connection ran through surrounding works: “ Nella Larsen,” “Round Fish (Panla) II,” “London Biscuit,” and “Indigo and Green ” explored colour and form, while prints such as “Dining is a Masterpiece II” and “Masai Warriors Cloth” drew on intimate sources such as a roommate’s nightgown, a Maasai blanket, and tablecloths that became markers of both difference and familiarity.
The exhibition’s most striking departure from textile was a life-sized self-portrait sculpture. Produced using a mirror for a Year Three sculpture assignment undertaken by all students in the department, the work reflected Elttør’s full immersion.
“I saw all of these portraits, and I thought it was so amazing. So I was inspired, and I thought I would try creating my own,” Elttør said, noting how deeply she had been drawn into the department’s creative rhythms.
Elttør explained that her decision to study in Lagos was driven by a desire to explore beyond her primary specialization in photography. She was particularly interested in African fashion, sculpture, and textiles, and credited members of the Applied Arts community for their guidance, collaboration, and support.
As the opening drew to a close, Elttør announced her intention to take the full collection back to Germany, with an invitation from the University to return for a future showcase.
UNILAG and HFBK University of Fine Arts, Hamburg
UNILAG’s ongoing exchange partnership with HFBK University of Fine Arts, Hamburg, underscores the University’s commitment to strengthening international academic collaboration and cross-cultural artistic exchange within the Faculty of Creative Arts.
Author: Lynda Onah
Photographer: Maleeq Quadri
