Exhibition Highlights Innovative Potential Of the Convergence Of Arts & Technology

Last week, the Creative Arts and Visual Imagery Center (CAVIC), opened an exhibition at its maiden Art and Tech Festival, which saw the convergence of arts and technology.

The central pieces of the exhibition include: an Interactive Kinetic Sculpture (KST6) that educates viewers on Sustainable Development Goals 4; Data Couture – comprising some wearable tech fashion pieces, solar rechargeable backpacks, and data protective wallets; an original-crafted AI CHAT-GPT animation installation of Sustainable and Industrial Designer, Teddy Atuluku, that espouses on SDG 3 and how health is essential to wealth; and the AI-infused paintings of Philip Agbese Jr, with extended animated videos of the artworks. 

The chief aim of the exhibition is to engender the infusion of creative arts and technology, that will result in the creation of innovative products and services of social impact. 

Largely self-funded by CAVIC Creative Director and his friends, the festival was initiated in June 2023, with a three days Art and Tech Social Impact workshop that convened about 60 young people in the creative arts and tech industry. 20 youth in groups of four were selected based on the innovation and feasibility of their projects. 

The exhibition is the result of a three months incubation period of the projects, that tested the will, commitment and vision of the participants, which saw them drop from 16 participants to five, as providence brought 16-year-old automation engineer and programmer, Anolue Chukwuemeka Patrick, and Atuluku in the picture. 

Speaking of the KST6 Kinetic Sculpture, of which he contributed to its movement, Anolue said, “Engineering is chock-filled with activities that engage both tech and arts. I really liked the concept and it future, and I want to study Robotics Engineering. This experience was quite enlightening about my future career. 

Artist, Anyanwu Emmanuel sculpted the KST6, responsibly choosing fiber as a more compatible medium for the electrical properties of the sculpture. 

“Fiber is a more suitable material for this project, in terms of weight. It corresponds with the different mechanisms to ensure the interactive-ness of the sculpture.”

Meantime, audio producer and music artiste, Ehiremi Austin Oremosele, is the one behind the audio rendition of the sculpture, and the proverbial glue of his group. 

“One of the things that kept us together (despite of the exit of two of our group members) is communication, which was a key skill we were taught workshop. Along the way, we found Chukwuemeka.”

Oremosele’s process-driven background and philosophy working in the family bakery business helped him and his group members stay the course.

Data Couture’s Afolabi Mariam Tiwalola was not so lucky. She is the last standing member of her group. But her determination and grit, shines forth in her exhibition which include a solar-powered phone charging backpack, a trackable and data protective wallet, and a wearable fashion-tech outfit.

“When we started this project Tinubu had just signed a data privacy policy, so we chose a project that will enlighten people about data protection, but also go a step forward to develop fashion piece that protects our personal data.

“We had several challenges ranging from absence of teamwork, to the shipping of the materials used in achieving our product – which had 50-50 chances of not working. This has been a rollercoaster experience. And thanks to Mr Philip for his encouragement.”

“Our aim with Data Couture is to empower youths. And we hope government will release funds to help scale-up what we have done,” said Tiwalola. 

Speaking to Media, CAVIC Creative Director, Philip Agbese Jr commended the creativity, diligence and resilience of Nigerian youths who owing to decades of a plunging national economy, seek greener climes abroad. 

“Events as this builds their confidence and helps them create wealth, such that they begin to fend for themselves relying on no one, much less government. When you improve programmes as this, you are improving the lot of the young ones. 

“Our objective is to scale-up the festival, to place it and the city of Abuja in the global creatives arts and technology events calendar,” concluded Agbese Jr.