Warm, smiling faces welcome visitors into Arami, a fine-dining space in Lekki, Lagos. But beyond its elegant setting, the restaurant is currently telling a different story, one of water, childhood, migration, freedom, history and the environment. The story is being told through Pure Water, an exclusive solo exhibition of 35 colourful works by Nigerian artist, Chika Idu, presented by SMO Contemporary Art.
The title Pure Water also refers to the plastic sachets of drinking water widely consumed in Nigeria. Discarded sachets often clog drains and waterways, contributing to environmental pollution.
Professor Frank A.O. Ugiomoh, an independent scholar and recently retired Professor of History of Art and Theory at the University of Port Harcourt, said Idu’s water metaphor connects histories of movement, displacement, vulnerability and the search for freedom.
“Memory is not just looking back. It shapes how we see the present and imagine the future,” he said. For Idu, the exhibition is also a record of his artistic journey. He explained that although he normally prefers to create fresh works for exhibitions, Pure Water includes works from different years to show his artistic journey.
