The pandemic helped me to find a story for my balloon series, because during the lockdown, I was depressed and my niece brought some balloons to my room. Unknowingly to her the balloons helped me to recover from depression.

Igbinovia Omon Sophia is a Nigerian artist, based in Lagos. She works with metal foil, acrylic and watercolour. Definitely, she is a human express with the sheer magical wand she commanded to have an exhibition immediately after 100 days of global lockdown due to Covid -19 pandemic. For an ordinary human, such a global meltdown would have knocked down their dreams and aspirations for the year. Rather, for beautiful and big game changer such as Sophia, the pandemic was just what it is.

Sophia was born in the 1980s. The young Nigerian holds a Higher Diploma degree in Computer Graphics from the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, Nigeria and got trained under the legendary and famous Dr. Bruce Onobrakpeya at Ovuomaroro gallery in Lagos Her compendium of work takes a critical view at how people should stay empowered and be useful to society.

Omon Sophia Igbinovia has been featured in newspapers, books and online platforms including African Styles and Culture Magazine. While she has also participated in numerous collective and group exhibitions in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

In an exclusive interview with iBAND Magazine, Omon Sophia Igbinovia opens up on more about her latest effort to the art house, particularly, her exhibition after 100 days of Coronavirus lockdown. A feat not for the fainthearted.

Your last exhibition came immediately after the coronavirus pandemic lockdown was lifted. The exhibition itself, did you succeed as a result of hardwork?

First of all, I appreciate God Almighty for making my first solo exhibition a success. Though the exhibition was supposed to be on the 11th April, 2020, but due to theCovid-19 and the lockdown, it was postponed. The reason it happened so fast immediately after the lockdown.

What financial implications did you experience while trying to put the exhibition together?

Wow, it was not easy. I was a little bit challenged at some point, like shipping my artworks by air to Abuja and other logistics, but some how I had to sacrifice part of my savings for it because it was really worth it at the end.

Lagos is known as the home of showbiz and creative adventure, why did you take the exhibition to Abuja?

Yes for sure, a lot of people believe that and so do I. The organizers and curator Susa Rodriguez-Garrido has a permanent venue which was the British Village Inn, owned by the British Embassy Abuja. But due to the fear of Covid-19 and the safety of the visiting diplomats and other guests, it was moved to a new venue- Dolapo Obat Gallery, Maitama, Abuja.

The Corona virus pandemic had a ripple effect on all businesses and global economies, as an artist, what lessons did you learn from such a pandemic?

Yes that’s true. I have learnt so much like saving extra because some of my exhibitions were postponed both within and outside Nigeria which I had plans for the sales. To be honest, the pandemic helped me to discover my new painting style which I’m so grateful for.

The financial status of artists are always in the drain when it comes to career building. As a young artist, what are your future plans not to feel the financial burden?

I just need to work hard and establish a name for myself and hopefully God’s Grace.

Information technology, Fintech, social media and virtual exhibition market are sprouting up everywhere, are you also conversant with such new investment tools for your art promotions?
Not really

I chose the exhibition title ‘Her Wish’ myself and I exhibited 25 pieces of my recent artworks. They were carefully selected by the curator Susa Rodriguez-Garrido. The pandemic helped me to find a story for my balloon series, because during the lockdown, I was depressed and my niece brought some balloons to my room, unknowingly to her the balloons helped me to recover from depression.

The preparation was good because I had enough time to arrange, rest and travel to Abuja early and the works were hung nine days before the opening ceremony.

Artworks/photographs /Omon Sophia Igbinovia 2020.