Losing Daylight: An Artistic Tribute to Simpler Times

In a world where technology evolves at an overwhelming pace, objects that once defined entire generations have faded into obsolescence. Vinyl records, VHS tapes, and audio cassettes—once the heartbeats of entertainment—have been replaced by streaming platforms and digital storage, relegating tangible nostalgia to memory. But art practitioner and curator Taiwo Adeyemi refuses to let these cultural symbols disappear so easily.

Through his groundbreaking exhibition, Losing Daylight, Adeyemi transports audiences back to childhood innocence, using large-scale mixed-media installations to reimagine and recontextualize these has-beens. The exhibition does more than revive nostalgia; it is a poignant statement on memory, cultural evolution, and how modernity often erases the touchpoints that shaped our collective past.

At its core, Losing Daylight is an alternative approach to artistic expression—  that challenges traditional curatorial frameworks and pushes the boundaries of contemporary art. It is an exhibition that attendees didn’t realize they needed until they were immersed in it.

For Adeyemi, the theme of Losing Daylight is deeply personal. Unlike many of his peers, he did not grow up with common household items like the television. In a home where religious beliefs dictated that the TV was the “Devil’s Box,” he was denied access to what many considered an essential part of childhood. While his friends excitedly discussed the latest cartoons, sitcoms, and football matches, he was left in the shadows, able only to hear sounds of entertainment seeping through the walls from neighboring homes.

However, this void was eventually filled when he moved in with his grandmother—fondly called Mama Shed—a vivacious socialite who introduced him to the world of home video. The experience left a lasting impression on him, igniting a desire to document the cultural elements that defined his childhood so future generations could relate to them. “Art is the only way I could do that,” Adeyemi shares.

His passion for family-inspired storytelling doesn’t end there. After losing his father in a tragic fire accident in 2014, Adeyemi began exploring the relationship between man and fire—both its constructive and destructive nature. While he started as a painter in his younger years, he later found deeper meaning in working with tangible objects, collaborating with artists in assembling installations that evoke emotion and memory in a way that traditional mediums could not.

On October 1st and 2nd, 2023, art lovers flocked to 37 Glover Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, to witness the first installment of what would soon become a landmark exhibition. Initially a two-day pop-up, the event drew an eclectic mix of creatives, collectors, and cultural enthusiasts—many unaware of what to expect, but drawn in by Taiwo’s influence in the art and creative community.

As guests walked through the exhibition, they were immersed in refreshing nostalgia. Each installation told a story—relics of the past were transformed into visually striking pieces that challenged visitors to reflect on what once was. The opening ceremony welcomed a diverse audience, including creative leaders, storytellers, musicians, TV hosts, sports personalities, and curators, all united by one common thread: a longing for simpler times.

The makeshift gallery grew increasingly crowded, confirming that the exhibition had struck a chord. In response to the overwhelming reception, Adeyemi extended the showing days and soon announced that Losing Daylight would return in December 2023 at the prestigious Ecobank Pan African Centre—this time as a major week-long exhibition with expanded layers of experience, including artist talks, music showcases, and a marketplace for purchasing pieces as both art and home décor.

Adeyemi’s curatorial approach is not just about his childhood void; but about reimagining how we interact with memory and material culture. “I have things to say, and the best way to say them without talking is through art,” Adeyemi reflects. “They will be unusual statements, but they will be meaningful.”

Losing Daylight bridges generations, reminding us that in a world that is always rushing forward, sometimes, the most profound thing we can do is look back.