A multidisciplinary artist, Orry Shenjobi, recently made her debut in cinematic storytelling with a captivating short film titled, A wan Be.
The artistic endeavour serves as a celebration of African art and a prelude to her upcoming exhibition at the Venice Biennale Art Festival set to hold in Venice, Italy, in April 2024.
The premiere, which was held at the Yenwa Art Gallery on Victoria Island, Lagos, showcased an excerpt of the film that captured the vibrant essence of the Nigerian party culture. Through this cinematic narrative, Shenjobi aims to provide context and insight into the diverse artworks that will be featured at the Venice Biennale.
In her remarks at the event, Shenjobi expressed her passion for exploring new avenues of creative expression, citing her lifelong love for film and photography as the inspiration for the project.
She said, “I am always trying to expand and develop my practice. I have been a film lover since day one, and film and photography are intertwined.
“This is my first time venturing into the world of film because to do justice to this project, people need to experience it not just by looking at painting and textiles.
“They need to be able to see people in the setting, so they can translate what it is like culturally.”
Shenjobi collaborated with a team of creatives to bring her vision to life on screen. They include Femi Lawson (scriptwriter), Ireti Olutayo (narrator), Moti Ogunsina (sound engineer), Ramsey Ariguzor (camera assistant), and Ekene Amaonwu (editor).
The newly appointed Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, Obi Asika, who was in attendance, also encouraged young creatives to work together to promote the country’s culture.
