By Esther Onyegbula

Lagos will host the Nigerian debut of renowned Spanish artist, Yago Sanchez, as his immersive crystal mosaic exhibition, The Precision of Light in the Dark, opens at Integra Art Space, Lekki, from June 17 to June 20, 2026.

Curated by Nigerian-British artist, actress and African holistic natural living advocate, Lola Bashua, the exhibition is expected to offer Lagos audiences a rare encounter with Sanchez’s distinctive crystal mosaic works, marking a significant addition to the city’s growing profile as a global contemporary art hub.

The exhibition, which will run daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is open to the public, presents a collection of crystal mosaic pieces that challenge viewers to reconsider the relationship between detail and perspective.
At close range, the artworks reveal hundreds of crystal fragments, vitreous tesserae, glass and marble painstakingly assembled by hand. From a distance, however, these fragments merge into recognisable figures, faces and forms, creating a visual dialogue between fragmentation and wholeness.
Drawing inspiration from traditional Roman mosaic techniques, the trencadís method popularised by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí, and Granada’s stone craft heritage, Sanchez employs a contemporary artistic language that transforms light into an active component of each work.

The exhibition explores themes of perception, patience and understanding, encouraging audiences to move closer, step back and experience the evolving nature of the artworks as light interacts with their surfaces throughout the day.
Speaking on the significance of bringing the exhibition to Lagos, curator Lola Bashua described the city as increasingly ready to engage with international artistic expressions while maintaining confidence in its own creative identity.

“I believe Lagos is now ready to host international artists and Sanchez’s work deserves a Lagos audience,” Bashua said.
“What excites me about his work is the same thing that excites me about any creative practice that holds its integrity: the commitment to material truth. Every crystal fragment in these pieces is placed by hand, with intention. There is no shortcut in mosaic.

“The image only emerges through patience, precision and a deep understanding of how light moves through matter. As a painter working in oils, I understand the relationship between a medium and what it reveals. Yago’s crystals reveal something I find deeply resonant with my own practice, the idea that the complete can only be fully understood once you have sat with the fragments. That is not just an artistic idea. It is a way of seeing.”

Bashua stressed that hosting international artists should not be viewed as a challenge to local talents but rather as an affirmation of Nigeria’s growing stature in the global art landscape.

“Hosting a western artist is not to overshadow our home-grown talents but to validate them, reinforcing to them that home is the best place to be. As we are being restored as the masters of the arts, a nod to Nok, the world now comes to us to pay homage.
“We are establishing Nigeria as the world centre of arts one exhibition at a time.
“I hope that everyone who walks through this exhibition takes their time with it. Move close. Move back. Let it transform,” she added.

A self-taught artist, Sanchez has spent more than a decade exploring mosaic as a living artistic form. Working with vitreous tesserae, glass, marble and stone, he has developed a distinctive visual style that sits at the intersection of sculpture, painting and traditional craftsmanship.
His works are noted for their ability to capture and reflect light differently depending on the viewer’s position, creating dynamic visual experiences that continue to evolve throughout the day.

For Sanchez, the Lagos exhibition represents his first presentation in Nigeria and a unique opportunity to connect Spanish craft traditions with Africa’s rapidly expanding contemporary art scene.
Bashua, whose artistic practice spans painting, acting, writing and advocacy for indigenous African holistic vegan living, described The Precision of Light in the Dark as her first major curatorial project in Lagos.

The exhibition is supported by unotelos dot com, a Lagos-based technology and multi-systems integration company operating across nine African markets.
According to the organisers, the partnership reflects a shared belief that technology and culture are interconnected, requiring the same vision, infrastructure and commitment to excellence.

They noted that bringing international art to Lagos demands the same forward-thinking approach that has driven Uno Telos’ growth since its establishment in 2004, underscoring a collective commitment to ensuring that Nigeria continues to attract world-class cultural experiences.