EVENT ALERT: DWSERIES

The organizers of the Design Workshop Series 2012 are delighted to announce the confirmation of Tunde Kelani Ace cinematographer, Kelechi Amadi-Obi Publisher of MANIA magazine and celebrity photographer, Paul Akpokodje Architect at Studio4 Associates, Lagos as speakers for the first edition of the DWSeries to be held this year.

Tunde Kelani holds a diploma in the art and technique of film-making from the London International Film School, London, After many years in the Nigerian Film industry as a cinematographer, he noow manages Mainframe Fiml Television Productions, an outfit formed to document Nigeria’s rich culture. Tunde Kelani has worked on most feature films produced in the country in his capacity as a cinematographer and blockbuster movies including Ti Oluwa Nile 1-3, Saworoide and now MAAMi. Kelani would be at the DWSeries to share the ideas and inspiration behind his latest work, MAAMi which hit the Nigerian cinemas on February 3, 2012. He would chair the session on ‘Recent Work’

Kelechi Amadi-Obi, after obtaining a law degree and his call to bar in 1993, settled to full-time studio art. He has earned international renown for both his photography and paintings. His unique style, mastery of aesthetics and creative lighting in his paintings have been re-invented in his photography to create understanding, dynamic and result oriented photography for his clients which include Guinness Nigeria, the Ford Foundation, MTN, PrimaGarnet Ogilvy, SO&u and a host of others. His works have ben featured in exhibitions within and outside Nigeria. These include: 2006 “Snap Judgment”, New Position in Contemporary African Photography”, International Center for Photography, New York, USA, 2005 “Depth of Field” South London Gallery, UK, 2004 “Lagos” Ifa Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany. Kelechi would be chairing a talk session on ‘The mind Not the Lens”, emphasizing the need to build mind sophistication rather than equipment sophistication. He would bring with him a portfolio of impressive works he has executed for clients in a bid to practically explain his guiding principles in photography.

Paul Akpokodje, is an alumnus of the University of Lagos’ Department of Architecture & Design and one of the best of his time. He was the best graduating student in both his undergraduate and master’s degree, finishing with a distinction. A recipient of the Shell Scholarship for Undergraduate students and the Urhobo Washington D.C. Association Scholarship Grant. Paul ’Kodje as fondly called by his contemporaries is a die-hard fan of good music and juggles a life of architecture and art with music, plus some travelling and photography. A Graduate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) and LEGACY, he is also a member of a photography group, inTerPREterS and works with Soga Abayomi as a duo in Quantum: A research and design group. Paul Kodje’s wish is to see future designers and artists break loose from a stereotypical way of thinking that inhibits creativity. He reckons that the chain of the thinking processes of many designers may need to be re-ordered to produce genuine and ageless creative pieces. He delivers: “The Way We Think”

Established in 2011, the DWSeries has become a major avenue for consistent interaction between industry practitioners and students or willing youths, hence bridging the gap between the two worlds and challenging young minds to creativity and focus. Set on the main campus of the University of Lagos, the Design Workshop Series has received an enthusiastic response from the audience as the forward-looking, experimental and context sensitive show. The seven editions of the DWSeries that have taken place until today, explore a variety of lecture topics and involved diverse exhibition formats including those of pioneer guest critic and radical Lagos designer, James George (1^st Edition), Kunmi Ayinla (2^nd Edition), Prof David Aradeon (3^rd Edition), Prof Olumide Olusanya (4^th Edition), Tola Akinkugbe (5^th Edition) and Lekan Osinibi (7^th Edition), In December 2011, the organizing committee decided to re-work the workshop series by introducing a system where industry practitioners who have made a reputation out of careers in the creative economy: art, architecture, design, writing etc., are invited to keep the lectures alive and interesting.

The organizing committee includes Tony Oladeji Director of the Lagos Biennial, Olajide Emmanuel Head Creative Office  ONE EA, Adedamola Osinloye Acting Head Business Development at ONE EA, Pelumi Olowolafe Head of Marketing ONE EA, ‘Tola Olaifa, Head DWSeries, Babasanya Craig Head DWBusiness. The facilitator of the DWSeries is ONE EA and venues include MED 2 Studio, University of Lagos and Ember Creek, Ikoyi (both in Lagos), other venues will be announced later.

New trailer: Kelechi Amadi-Obi promises to be at DWseries watch the video here:

Your favourite blog: @Fashionitekture has been appointed the Official Costume and Styling Partners of the epoch-making event