Bolaji Alonge, aka Eyes of a Lagos Boy, uses macro photography to show the inner world of street flowers of Lagos. These flowers grow in city gardens and sidewalks in between the dirt and rubble. They symbolize the beauty of nature, both fragile and strong at the same time. Together with Lagosians, they stand proudly in the midst of the urban jungle. Bolaji shows beauty where it is least expected. During these trying times, when uncertainty is the new normal, the “small” things in life can make all the difference. However, once enlarged, they can become magical objects of wonder.
Bolaji Alonge is an artist, photographer, journalist and actor from Lagos, Nigeria with more than a decade of experience in documenting history. Bolaji Alonge’s visual language speaks of the wonders of nature and human exchange and searches for historical continuity in a world that is fractured. He shows his beloved Lagos from unexpected angles, a city that inspires and captivates imagination, but also pulls people into a vortex of energy and constant challenges. Images of everyday life in Nigeria carry deep social messages that expose fragility, audacity but also squalor. Bolaji makes the viewer reconsider what we have seen with our own eyes, through the Eyes of a Lagos Boy.
Quote: Bolaji shows beauty where it is least expected. During these trying times, when uncertainty is the new normal, the “small” things in life can make all the difference.
Website: http://eyesofalagosboy.com
Bolaji Alonge: “I show beauty where it is least expected. During these trying times, when uncertainty is the new normal, the “small” things in life can make all the difference.”