Adolphus Opara
As an experienced visual storyteller, Adolphus Opara began his photographic career by documenting the rich culture and heritage of his home country, Nigeria. His work is driven by a desire to demystify personal notions of identity rooted in his childhood. Over the course of his career, he shifted toward more conceptual themes, examining the nuanced social impacts of forced environmental changes brought about by the Anthropocene.

As a result of his long-term documentary photography projects and his strong interest in the struggles of socially marginalized communities, he co-founded the Foundation for Art and Social Integration (FASI), a multidisciplinary arts foundation. In collaboration with artists and socially engaged institutions, the foundation has conducted several photography training programs across Africa. Opara also co-founded the “Creative Photography Masterclass in Visual Storytelling” (CPM) and has led numerous photography workshops throughout the continent.

In 2023, he was appointed as a collaborator with the West African cluster of the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University. This research project focuses on sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and urban flooding in the Gulf of Guinea.

In 2024, he served as Research Coordinator for “Colouring Lagos,” a Critical-Lab research project at the Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD), which explores the potential of landscape color strategies to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Opara has also served on the Grand Jury of the Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Art alongside Yinka Shonibare MBE, N’Gone Fall, Prof. El Anatsui, and Ablade Glover.

Otori Olusola
In his digital works, Otori Olusola explores the intersection of spirituality and art. Drawing on his experiences gained during ten years of regular visits to the Osun-Osogbo Grove while documenting sacred sites, he created the documentary film The Sacred Art Movement, which highlights the lives and remarkable collective efforts of artists and artisans. They have dedicated their lives to the preservation of the Osun-Osogbo forest and its cultural heritage under the guidance of Susanne Wenger, an Austrian-born sculptor who is now recognized as a pioneer of the “New Sacred Art Movement” in Oshogbo, Western Nigeria.

The film addresses several key themes, including human values and ethics, environmental protection and social responsibility, the role of Susanne Wenger as an outsider, and complex questions surrounding the coexistence of art and traditional Yoruba practices within Nigeria’s strongly Christian and Islamic context.

Filmed over a period of eight years, the documentary features rare footage of some of the most important original artists of the New Sacred Art Movement, including Adebisi Akanji and Sangodare Ajala, both of whom have recently passed away. These artists trained the next generation of creators and artisans, who continue to restore the artworks in a traditional manner while preserving the meaning and spirituality of the shrines and sculptures. The perspectives of this generation, which carries the legacy forward, are powerfully conveyed in the film.

Citizenship: Nigeria
Residence: Session 4 (18.05.-22.06.2026)

Adolphus Opara

Otori Olusola