“Fueling Change: A Multimedia Exploration of Niger Delta’s Oil Crisis”

Buffalo Arts Studio is excited to present Léwuga Tata Benson’s Fueling Change: A Multimedia Exploration of Niger Delta’s Oil Crisis. Benson’s immersive, multimedia exhibition will shed light on the harsh realities of oil extraction and its effects on the indigenous people of the Niger Delta in Western Nigeria, his homeland. Through a thought-provoking combination of artifacts, original footage, and sound, visitors will be transported into the lives of those most affected, raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the social, economic, and environmental consequences of unregulated oil extraction practices.

Fueling Change will be on display July 26&September 7, 2024, with an opening reception on Friday, July 26, from 5:00&8:00 pm. The exhibition and reception are free and open to the public.

Three large projections dominate the exhibition space, with each offering a different perspective of the Niger Delta’s struggles. The first projects across two walls, distorting the faces of individuals who stand along the river’s edge. In the second, the camera follows two guides who walk along a path that leads through the jungle, into a village kitchen, and finally at an impotent oil pump. The third video jumps and jerks along as people walk through the village, intentionally breaking with the real-time recordings of the other two. In the center of the gallery, an oil can hangs from the ceiling, casting shadows onto each of the three videos. Benson reminds the viewer of the profound impact of oil extraction in every aspect of life in his hometown.

As an interdisciplinary artist and filmmaker, Léwuga Tata Benson’s work bridges cultures and explores the dynamic interplay between identity, environmental sustainability, and human connection. Benson has been the recipient of the NYSCA 2024 Support for Artists Grant and the Gregory Capasso Scholarship for outstanding work in film.

For more information about Buffalo Arts Studio, please visit www.buffaloartsstudio.org