British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare has launched Guest Artists Space, a residency and arts centre in Lagos, alongside the Ecology Green Farm, to research food scarcity in the Nigerian countryside. The two spaces will increase connections between artists in Africa and those in international art scenes from the Gulf, Europe and America.
Gas is among a number of new art spaces being built in West Africa by internationally successful artists who are returning home to invest in the industry on the continent.
It also reflects a growing interest among artists in developing research on food and water scarcity. In September, before the official launch of the site, Gas hosted a symposium by the Sharjah Architecture Triennial. Tosin Oshinowo and members of the Triennial team discussed the themes of impermanence and adaptability across the Global South with cultural figures from the African continent such as the architects Adeyemo Shokunbi and Mpho Matsipa.
Gas has also signed up to the World Weather Network project, which began using art spaces around the world to map the changing climate earlier this year, and which counts the Jameel Arts Centre as a member in Dubai.
Focused primarily on residences, Guest Artists Space will invite artists, curators, thinkers, and designers for four-month rotations, with one drawn from Nigeria, one from the continent of Africa and one from abroad. They will live and work at the site and take part in seminars and lectures, which are open to the wider community in Lagos.
Years in the making, Shonibare had at first toyed with different ideas for the space — initially thinking of it as an exhibition site for a scene that lacks major public institutions. But eventually, he turned to the idea of residencies as the best means of helping artists to develop their work.
“I had done some residencies in the past myself; one in Senegal, one in Sweden, and one in Philadelphia. That experience of doing the residency changed my practice,” he says. “Once you manage to take yourself outside your own comfort zone, as an artist, it pushes you to be more open, to be imaginative, and to push the boundaries of what you already know.”
The bespoke Brutalist building was designed by the British-Ghanaian architect Elsie Owusu and was inspired by local Yoruba architecture. The site wraps around a central courtyard and a large concrete screen, spanning two storeys and the width of the building, which partially blocks out the strong sun.
It also houses a live workspace for the residents, a gallery, seminar rooms and a library, which hosts the collection of John Picton — an eminent scholar of African art who taught at Soas in London. The library already has 1,500 volumes in its collection, ranging from art to anthropology and other social sciences, and has plans to digitise its volumes over the next two years.
Shonibare graduated from Goldsmiths College in 1991 at a time when the art school was a potent incubator for the pop, provocative projects associated with the YBA — or "Young British Artists" — generation, including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
Shonibare distinguished himself from other artists by responding to the urgent legacy of colonialism, becoming known for his work with Dutch East India fabric, which has become associated with Africa.
Unravelling its complexity, he showed how the fabric was inspired by the traditional Indonesian batik print, and was developed by the Dutch for the market in their Indonesian colony. But the industrially printed material was not successful there and it was sold in to West African markets. Instead of representing an authentic African identity, it was instead a product of the economic and migratory ties routes created by colonial trade.
In a series of renowned videos and sculptures, Shonibare used the fabric for an 18-century court dress, representing the colonialism that fuelled European wealth of that era.
He has since continued to explore the fabric as signs of Africa’s history, while also revelling in the play of colours and patterns more formally. In 2014, he created the series Wind Sculptures, which rendered the fabric as steel sails, shaped as if formed by the wind — one of which was commissioned by Tarek Abou El Fetouh for Dubai Expo 2020 and remains as a permanent sculpture there.
Other projects delve further into how African idioms were disseminated across Europe, such as a beautiful suite of African-inspired masks, quilts and sculptures, shown last year at the London gallery, Stephen Friedman.
Shonibare has long been a major source of support to young artists. From 2006 to 2020, he ran Guests Projects space on the ground floor of his London studio off the Regent's Canal in East London. There he showed a rotating display of young artists, who he encouraged to be more experimental. Gas continues in that vein while also building links to Nigeria, where his family is from and where he grew up.
“The art scene right now is very commercial,” Shonibare explains. “But that is not great for the development of an artist, because artists need time and space to develop the work, and so I provided that opportunity. That’s something that gives me joy, to support a younger generation, and to give them some of the opportunities that I had when I was just starting out as an artist.”
The international launch was timed to coincide with the fair Art X Lagos, which has played a major role in establishing links across the continent and in growing the Nigerian artist scene. The space held a soft launch earlier this year, with artists including Lynhan Balatbat Helbock, Emma Prempeh, Portia Zvavahera and Gideon Gomo. Shonibare also staged a show drawn from his collection of ancient, modern and contemporary African art.
Shonibare's second space is Ecology Green Farm in Ijebu, a village about 100 kilometres north-east of the Nigerian capital. A working organic farm spanning about 22 hectares, it is dedicated to researching food security — a growing problem across the African continent, and one that has become the focus of a number of artistic spaces.
The Delfina Foundation in London is currently centring three years of its programming around the politics of food, and Art Jameel launched its Jeddah site, Hayy Jameel, with the show Staple: What’s On Your Plate?, which looked at different artistic investigations into food and agriculture.
Members of the well-known Raqs Media Collective from Delhi are the first “weather reporters” at the site, where they will be in residence from early next year with other artists and practitioners to develop research around agricultural production in the southern Nigerian climate.
“The issue of food sustainability for local people is one of the pressing issues of our time,” says Shonibare. “It’s essential that we're growing food for the local community and doing research around ecology on the farm. And the farm will also give artists who are doing residencies in Lagos another opportunity to go to a rural area to understand Nigeria better and to start to engage with nature.”
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
HOW TO WATCH
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Scoreline:
Cardiff City 0
Liverpool 2
Wijnaldum 57', Milner 81' (pen)
Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
RESULTS
6.30pm: Handicap (rated 100 ) US$175,000 1,200m
Winner: Baccarat, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (78-94) $60,000 1,800m
Winner: Baroot, Christophe Soumillon, Mike de Kock
7.40pm: Firebreak Stakes Group 3 $200,000 1,600m
Winner: Heavy Metal, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.15pm: Handicap (95-108) $125,000 1,200m
Winner: Yalta, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
8.50pm: Balanchine Group 2 $200,000 1,800m
Winner: Promising Run, Pat Cosgrave, Saeed bin Suroor
9.25pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,800m
Winner: Blair House, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
10pm: Handicap (95-105) $125,000 1,400m
Winner: Oh This Is Us, Tom Marquand, Richard Hannon
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
The years Ramadan fell in May
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Results:
6.30pm: Handicap | US$135,000 (Dirt) | 1,400 metres
Winner: Rodaini, Connor Beasley (jockey), Ahmad bin Harmash (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap | $135,000 (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
7.40pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes | Group 3 | $200,000 (T) | 2,000m
Winner: Spotify, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: UAE Oakes | Group 3 | $250,000 (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile | Group 2 | $250,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Mythical Image, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.20pm: Handicap | $135,000 (T) | 1,600m
Winner: Major Partnership, Kevin Stott, Saeed bin Suroor
Company%20profile
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The President's Cake
Director: Hasan Hadi
Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
