Leonard Iheagwam explores food consumption in latest exhibition

 “Nourishment,” a multidisciplinary exhibition by artist Leonard Iheagwam, popularly known as Soldier, opened over the weekend at Nahous, Lagos’ newest cultural space located within the historic Old Federal Palace Hotel.

The exhibition, the artist’s first solo presentation in Lagos, will run until December 7, 2025.

The showcase examines the relationship between food, survival, and collective memory in Nigeria, weaving themes of identity, class, and resilience.

Iheagwam reflects on items ranging from famine-relief supplies flown into Biafra during the Civil War to imported household staples like Peak milk, Milo, and Maggi, showing how they shaped aspirations and cultural identity across generations.

The exhibition also explores contemporary symbols of survival, from Lagos traffic snacks to instant noodles and sachet-based consumption, highlighting how everyday food items have become markers of creativity and endurance.

Through paintings, installations, sound, and cultural archives, Iheagwam reimagines tins, cubes, and sachets as cultural artefacts documenting Nigeria’s evolving story.

Opening night drew artists, curators, collectors, and Lagos’ creative community, who praised the exhibition’s blend of visual art and anthropological depth.

Richard Vedelago, founder of Nahous, said, “Nahous was created as a space for layered cultural storytelling. Nourishment captures that vision, turning the everyday into a lens through which we can reflect on how history, creativity, and resilience intersect.”