Exhibition Details

AKKA Project unveils their latest exhibition: The Residency Outcome by this year's first artist in residence, Osaru Obaseki, opened on June 14, 2024, this captivating showcase will run until September 18, 2024.
The Residency Outcome is a celebration of Obaseki's inspiring journey during her three-month residency at AKKA Project Venice. Immersed in the city's rich cultural tapestry, she drew profound inspiration from Venice’s storied past, pushing her creative boundaries. Her experience allowed her to delve deeply into both Venetian history and the traditions of her homeland, creating a unique cultural synthesis.
Enchanted by Venice, she explored iconic sites like the Accademia Galleries, the Natural History Museum, and the Correr Museum, all of which profoundly influenced her artistic vision. Engaging in local cultural events, such as Professor Shaul Bassi's book presentation of African Venice, further enriched her perspective, fueling her creative expression, which is vividly evident in her exhibited works. Her journey also reignited her exploration of the cultural connections between Venice and her native Benin City in Nigeria. Everything in Venice served as inspiration for Osaru: the walls, the water, and the enchanting decay of this fragile city, and she has been able to capture every detail with her unique and very rare artistic style.
The exhibited works are nothing short of stunning. On one side, the AKKA Project presents Obaseki’s innovative painted canvases. Known for her sand art on various media, she has now crafted unique and beautiful decorations using Murano glass powder mixed with glue and acrylics, resulting in colourful and intricate motifs symbolizing her origin Country, Nigeria. On the other hand, considering that the artist is accustomed to casting sculptures in bronze using the lost-wax method, the AKKA Project took the chance to have her immerse herself in the entire process of creating translucent and fantastic Murano glass sculptures. These pieces encapsulate the essence and symbolism of her homeland, while also embodying the centuries-old Murano glass tradition.
All of this was made possible thanks to the intuitive collaboration with the Berengo Foundation, established from the very beginning of her residency at the AKKA Project. The master glass artisans at Studio Berengo guided Osaru through the entire glass transformation and sculpting process, starting from clay models, proving to be an essential element in her creative journey. There, she immersed herself in the traditional Venetian craft of glassmaking, blending it with contemporary art practices. Working alongside glassmakers in their historic furnaces, Osaru learned the intricate technique of glass casting. The exquisite pieces she created under their expert guidance are now showcased in this solo show. This significant partnership also earned the artist the opportunity to showcase her first glass sculpture at the internationally renowned exhibition, Glasstress 8 1⁄2, which opened in April at the Berengo exhibition space and will continue until November 2024.