Lagos, Feb. 22, 2026 (NAN) Nigerian visual artist and cultural documentarian, Dr Moses Oghagbon, says he is strengthening efforts to preserve Nigeria’s cultural memory through painting and photography.
Oghagbon told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during an interview on Sunday in Lagos that he reached the decision after a year of international exhibitions that expanded the global visibility of his work.
He said his goal was to ensure that visual art functions not only as aesthetic expression, but as an active contributor to cultural understanding and continuity.
Oghagbon noted that exhibiting internationally had not only broadened audiences for his work, but also deepened his understanding of how cultural narratives from Nigeria resonate within global contexts.
“The past year has been a period of consolidation and reflection for my practice,” he said.
He said his focus in 2026 would be on building stronger platforms for cultural preservation through visual storytelling, especially projects that document festivals, landscapes and lived traditions.
“I intend to leverage these gains by deepening my engagement with cultural documentation and mentorship within the visual arts sector,” he said.
He said that his work continues to explore themes of movement, memory and cultural continuity, with exhibitions serving as starting points for deeper engagement rather than final outcomes.
“For me, exhibitions are entry points, not endpoints,” he said.
According to Oghagbon, in 2025, his paintings were showcased in notable exhibitions including ‘Borderless Border’ at Simpleliving Art Gallery, Kigali, Rwanda; ‘Nigerian Art Connect 2025’ at Bouygues Club House, Jabi, Abuja.
Also, ‘Deconstructing Unity’ at the National Museum, Onikan, Lagos, and ‘A Promise of Memories’ at TIM & Carol Art Gallery, Ikeja.
He said the exhibitions presented works drawn from his ongoing cultural documentation projects, including the Argungu Series and the Tour Nigeria initiative, which are rooted in local histories and everyday experiences.
He said collaboration also played a key role in expanding the reach of his practice.
He said working alongside international artists and curators opened spaces for exchange and critical dialogue on identity, migration and cultural memory.
Looking ahead, Oghagbon said his first major project of 2026 was a February road trip to Kebbi State to document important cultural festivals and historical sites.
“I document the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival in the Argungu Emirate, the Rigata Annual Cultural Festival in the Yauri Emirate, activities in the Zuru Emirate, and other significant historical sites within the region,” he said.
The artist said he was also preparing for a solo exhibition titled “ARGUNGU SERIES 11”, which he said would further explore the interior life, landscapes and cultural nuances of Argungu.
Oghagbon said beyond gallery spaces, he planned to extend artistic engagement through artist talks, community workshops, visual archives and interdisciplinary conversations involving historians, photographers, scholars and cultural practitioners.
He added that he was particularly interested in creating spaces where audiences would engage with the deeper histories behind artworks.
Oghagbon said partnerships with cultural institutions, tourism boards, educational platforms and media outlets would be central to developing programmes that encourage conversations around heritage, identity and preservation. (NAN)
