…for safer environment

By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

The first leg of a multidisciplinary group art exhibition, “Recycling Matters I”, has been scheduled to open February 15 and run till March 1, 2025 at Alexis Galleries, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The exhibition, primed to showcase fresh works by four artists — Francis Denedo, Konboye Ebipade Eugene, Olushola Olajobi and Yusuf Riliwan Idowu — who participated in the last residency at Alexis, is proudly sponsored by The Macallan, a world-renowned Scottish whisky whose brand has long been synonymous with innovative distillation practices and unwavering commitment to sustainability.

The four interdisciplinary artists  brought together by Alexis Gallery worked with found

objects and materials, “employing diverse innovative approaches to the idea of waste and utility, through forms and colour, while producing aesthetical assemblage of works that connects the human condition to materiality and consumption,” the gallery said.

Their works feature a wide range of mediums from different found materials including stain glasses, rubber, scrap metal and nylon wastes.

“By repurposing discarded objects found and collected from their immediate environs, these artists reutilize and recover our penchant engagement with wastefulness and consumer excesses, while making social commentary on pressing issues which addresses the human experience, inequality, injustice, mismanagement and environmental pollution,” Alexis said.

Patty Chidiac Mastrogiannis,

founder of Alexis Gallery, said the exhibition aims to inspire viewers to reconnect with the idea of reinvention and social intervention by transforming community-dumped debris into aesthetic treasure. “In a society paralyzed by waste and consumption, this exhibition motivates viewers to take proactive, responsive efforts towards their immediate environment and society,” Mastrogiannis said.

Curator of the works and the art exhibition, Uche Obas, said ‘Recycling Matters I’ engages with the social reality of waste, utility and functionality, in light of profusion of consumer excesses and socio-economic factors. “The exhibition explores these issues through a wide range of mediums…”

“This exhibition,” Obas said, “draws us in to take part in the process and result of remaking, reinvention and reusage, revealing everyday objects that re-connect our place in its utility, grace and duality of meaning.. Through forms and colour, these artists produce aesthetic assemblage of works from installation, sculpture and multimedia combinations that reect and connect the human condition to consumption and environmental pollution.”

The curator gave snippet overviews of some of the works the artists are bringing to the exhibition:

Konboye Ebipade Eugene re-invents portraiture that emerge out of meticulously stitched assemblage of discarded rubber footwear, held together as a grid of shades of visual elds perceptible through radiant hue of colors that represents an interplay between old and new.

Eugene’s work “Bose” pushes beyond the boundaries of gender limitations on survival and livelihood.

Yusuf Riliwan employs systematic cubic arrangement of retro-reective debris of broken pieces of glass bottle drinks harmonized in different shades, textures and vibrant colors. His work, “Elegance of Heritage” portrays a portrait and cultural identity of a young woman, adorned with simple yet meaningful tribal markings.

Using discarded scrap metal, Francis Denedo crafts used materials into forms and meanings, to address the age-long, universal human quest for freedom and autonomy.

Denedo’s work reminds us of the human need to act with courage, resilience and determination in the face of adversity. His sculptural work “EMANCIPATION” is an

expressive gesture on deance, resistance and liberty.

For Olushola Olajobi, working with nylon wastes allows him to explore the interplay of everyday consumption, utility, and disposal. Olajobi’s Infestation Series I is a sculptural installation that invites the viewers to confront the overwhelming presence of nylon waste in our environment. Olajobi recontextualizes waste as a primary material, challenging our

perceptions of value while making commentary on waste pollution and sustainable environmental management practices in Nigeria.

The Macallan & safe environment

As a leader in the whisky industry, The Macallan is redening the standards of environmental responsibility, integrating eco-conscious practices into every aspect of its operations. With a bold vision to achieve net-zero emissions by 2045 and reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030, The Macallan is pushing the boundaries of innovation and sustainability.

Since 2021, the distillery has achieved carbon neutrality, harnessing 99 per cent veried renewable energy sources, including wind turbines, biomass steam, and renewable natural gas.

The Macallan’s dedication to minimizing its environmental footprint is evident in its carbon sequestration initiatives, such as land management and offsetting. Innovative solutions like heat recovery systems and an all-electric and hybrid vehicle eet further demonstrate the brand’s passion for reducing energy consumption and emissions.

Water conservation is also a top priority, with the distillery employing sustainable water-sourcing practices that protect the River Spey’s ecosystem.

The estate’s commitment to biodiversity is evident in its regenerative agriculture practices, tree planting, and wildlife habitat creation. These efforts not only promote environmental sustainability but also contribute to the rich and diverse ecosystem of the River Spey.

The Macallan’s sustainable packaging initiatives have earned it recognition, with lighter bottles and 90-95 per cent recyclable and locally sourced packaging materials. These efforts have been acknowledged with prestigious certications, including ISO 14001 and the Positive Luxury Buttery

Mark.

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt

whiskies. The brand’s uncompromising pursuit of excellence, evident in its

outstanding quality and distinctive character, has been a hallmark of The Macallan since its establishment by Alexander Reid.