Art enthusiasts and cultural explorers in Lagos are bracing for a unique experience as visionary Nigerian artist Temidayo SDL Arise prepares to unveil his debut solo exhibition, “Memoria.” Scheduled to run from July 12 to July 18, 2025, at SO.NNE by A Whitespace Lagos, this exhibition is more than just a display of art; it’s being hailed as a boundary-defying project that delves into the intricate realms of memory, myth, and transcendence.
“Memoria,” which translates to “memory,” stands as a powerful manifesto of mind, history, and spiritual recall, according to its creators. Hosted in partnership with A Whitespace Creative Agency, a prominent innovative creative agency, and produced by Booze and Peppermint, a dynamic publishing and creative venture studio, the exhibition is set to be a highlight of Lagos’s cultural calendar.
SDL, as the artist is widely known, invites viewers into his expansive world through 24 individual artworks. Each piece is described as an “excavation of memory and self,” promising a deeply personal yet universally resonant journey. His work operates at the intriguing intersection of surrealism, African spiritual cosmology, and speculative realism. Visitors can expect to see religious iconography deconstructed, Nigerian lore reassembled, and the very fragility of identity in an increasingly digitized world interrogated, all through SDL’s distinctive digital medium. The exhibition’s organizers note that each piece acts as “both portal and mirror — independent of time but a reflection of presence, and possibility.”
Temidayo SDL Arise himself is a compelling figure in the contemporary art scene. Beyond his artistic practice, he is recognized as a cultural futurist and mythmaker. His career boasts a global reach, with showcases at prestigious events like Art Basel Miami (2021) and Galeria Lisboa (2022), in addition to numerous standout exhibitions across Lagos. As the co-founder of Indigo, an experimental Ilorin-based art house, and head of HAKAI Studios, SDL’s multidisciplinary approach spans fine art, engineering, fashion, and design, solidifying his reputation as an artist shaping the future of African creative thought.
Adding another layer to the “Memoria” experience is an exclusive art book, also titled Memoria. Described as a “tactile extension of SDL’s internal architecture,” the book serves as a literary and visual journal. It blends archival fragments, essays, process sketches, and spiritual meditations, designed to read “like scripture from a parallel world — part gospel, part field note — capturing the stillness and motion of memory in ink, texture, and typography.”
The collaboration behind “Memoria” is noteworthy. Booze and Peppermint, an emerging force at the edge of culture, film, and publishing, is producing the event. The chosen venue, SO.NNE by A Whitespace Lagos, is a venue partner renowned for curating experiences that push cultural boundaries. This convergence of storytelling, infrastructure, and innovation is expected to make “Memoria” a truly rare and memorable event.
The exhibition will be open to the public from 12 pm to 7 pm daily, from July 12 to July 18, 2025, at SO.NNE, located at 17 Maitama Sule Street off Awolowo road in Ikoyi, Lagos.
