A HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS AND A SINGLE HOUR
15 MARCH - 5 APRIL 2025
OVERVIEW WORKS INSTALLATION VIEW
Wunika Mukan Gallery is proud to present "A Hundred Thousand Years and a Single Hour," a group exhibition showcasing the works of three dynamic Nigerian women artists: Jadesola “Jay” Olaniyan, Oluwaseyi Akinwumi, and Naomi Momoh. Inspired by the timeless words of Rumi, “A hundred thousand years and a single hour are one. The beginning of eternity and the end of eternity arch into Union,” the exhibition reflects on the fluidity of time and its profound impact on how we understand ourselves and our connections to others. Through their distinct artistic practices, these three artists weave together personal histories, cultural narratives, and spiritual reflections to create a collective meditation on existence.
This thought-provoking exhibition invites audiences to reflect on how memory shapes identity across time, highlighting the artists’ shared ability to transcend temporal boundaries by transforming personal experiences into universal expressions. From Jay’s exploration of tender moments in nature to Seyi’s layered visual language of introspection to Naomi’s spiritual narratives rooted in mythologies—their works collectively remind us that time is both fleeting and eternal.
Through their figurative practices these artists create a dialogue between the seen and unseen. They explore how our pasts echo within us while simultaneously shaping our present selves. The exhibition becomes an invitation for viewers to contemplate their own relationship with time: How do our memories define us? How do we reconcile fleeting moments with eternal truths?
JAY OLNIYAN is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist whose practice intertwines memory, nature, and self-exploration. Her work is an intimate excavation of personal history, tender moments, quiet traumas, and the ineffable weight of love and loss. Through painting, sculpture, printmaking, and digital media, she abstracts the natural world, drawing from the gardens of her childhood, the catfish ponds of her grandfather, and the landscapes of her subconscious.
Olaniyan's work has been featured in Super Nature (Kuta Arts Foundation, 2024), Changing Climate (SABAA Kukutana ART AWARD, 2023), and Floating Thoughts: Where Do We Go From Here? (Unity Arts Collective, 2022).
“I want people to see themselves in each of these pieces. To see themselves as a work in progress. I want them to see the metamorphosis of life. I want them to see the seeds before they germinate. I want them to see, not just the treetop but also all of its roots which are hidden beneath the ground.”
OLUWASEYI AKINWUMI is a multidisciplinary artist based in Lagos, Nigeria. Through mixed media, drawing, painting, and collage, she explores the uid and ever-evolving nature of human existence, where memories fade and resurface, love transforms, and time bends. Each composition invites viewers into an immersive space where forms emerge and dissolve, offering a window into the in-between. Her work is guided by an intuitive and spiritual process, seeking to reveal the cyclical nature of existence and the emotional undercurrents that shape human connection.
She holds an MSc in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from the University of Warwick, UK. Her work has been exhibited at Kuta Residency (2024), Lighthouse Gallery, London (2023), Alliance Française, Lagos (2023), AMG Projects, Lagos (2023), O’DA Art Contemporary Gallery, Lagos (2022), Bloom Art, Lagos (2022), Hourglass Gallery, Lagos (2021), Mydrim Gallery, Lagos (2019), and the Society of Fine Arts, Lagos (2019).
“ I am fascinated by how personal and collective experiences shape our emotions, our relationships, and our understanding of time.”
NAOMI MOMOH is a textile and fiber artist whose work navigates the unseen realms of spiritual warfare and mythology. Momoh employs a meticulous process of staining fragmented satin with ink, dyes, and markers, creating layered collages that mirror the tension between the divine and the profane. Her work references biblical passages and spiritual iconography, seeking to give form to the invisible forces that shape human existence. Through this approach, she invites viewers to contemplate the liminal spaces between faith and fear, light and darkness, the earthly and the ethereal.
Trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (MFA, 2020) and Pratt Institute (BFA, 2018), she draws from medieval religious tapestries and illuminated manuscripts to explore the eternal struggle between good and evil. Her intricate compositions depict angels, demons, saints, and celestial battles, bringing ancient spiritual narratives into a contemporary context.
Her work has been exhibited in solo and group shows across the United States. Solo exhibitions include Flora & Fauna at the University of New Mexico-Valencia (2021) and The Night is for Walking Down the Street at Spillway Collective, Philadelphia (2020). Group exhibitions include The Voice of Many, the Voice of One at LES Gallery, NYC (2023) and To Whom Do I Owe The Power Behind My Voice at Commonweal Gallery, Philadelphia (2022).
