From Lagos to the World: A Biennial Publication Turned Monument

Designer: Kieron Lewis

Scope: Publication

Client: Lagos Biennial

This time, exciting news from the world of design arrives from a different continent. Lagos Biennial proudly presents a publication of historical significance — a monumental volume documenting the last four editions of the Biennial while simultaneously offering curatorial reflections toward its forthcoming 2026 edition. Kieron Lewis, an editorial designer whose collaborators include the Victoria & Albert Museum, HarperCollins, South London Gallery, and Chronicle Books, was appointed to design the publication.

Taking its title from Bisi Silva’s 2017 essay, Lagos: The Making of an African Capital of Culture, the architecturally conceived book invites readers to navigate a series of groundbreaking artistic interventions staged across Lagos’s iconic colonial and post-independence sites, including the Nigerian Railway Corporation (2017), Independence House (2019), and Tafawa Balewa Square (2021 & 2024).

The book offers a compelling narrative of how artists from across Africa and around the world continue to engage with, construct, and inhabit rapidly evolving urban spaces, while simultaneously reinforcing Lagos’s position on the global stage. Featuring contributions from 161 international artists, the publication captures the complexity of contemporary artistic discourse within historically charged environments.

At the direct request of Lagos Biennial Director Dr. Folakunle Oshun, designer Kieron Lewis translated this historical record into a publication that feels both complex and ambitious. And for good reason: the book is housed within a sculptural concrete case modelled after the façade of Tafawa Balewa Square, the symbolic site of Nigeria’s independence celebrations in 1960. The production process behind the case itself was far from simple. It began with the construction of a wooden mould complete with a structural core, which was later used to cast the concrete. The method underwent multiple iterations before arriving at its final form. More intricate architectural elements, such as the terraces and towers, were produced using 3D printing technology.

Through this approach, Kieron Lewis successfully pushes the publication beyond the conventions of the printed book. Whenever we encounter books filled with historical records, our minds instinctively travel to the places described within them — imagining how those spaces once functioned as witnesses to civilization and human history. Reading this publication designed by Kieron Lewis, however, feels different. One no longer needs to “travel far” to experience the weight and atmosphere of those historical spaces. The publication itself becomes a physical encounter; an embodied experience of reading.

The strength of this publication does not stop at its monumental casing. Kieron Lewis also demonstrates an extreme level of attention toward the book’s material and production details. The cover uses Silk Touch Nuba SIN9065 Matt Black, a material with an almost fabric-like softness to the touch, paired with Foilco 6220 Gold foil that appears subtle yet elegant against the deep black surface. The combination creates a visual contrast that feels luxurious without becoming excessive.

Moving into the interior, the decision to pair Gotham and Baskerville feels remarkably precise. Gotham brings a modern, assertive, and urban sensibility — the very qualities that come to mind when speaking about a city — while Baskerville introduces a more classical and literary rhythm to the reading experience.

Weighing seven kilograms and measuring 55 x 36 cm, the hand-cast publication and sculptural object has ultimately taken on the role of an artifact; an archive intended to be passed down from one generation to another. The entire print production process was handled by Print Love, UK, who successfully translated the project’s immense design complexity into a physical object with exceptional precision.

Lagos: The Making of an African Capital of Culture officially launched on November 4, 2025, at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence (October 1, 1960). The publication was produced in an extremely limited edition of only 65 copies, with 50 copies made available to the public as part of Lagos Biennial’s fundraising campaign. All proceeds from the book will go toward the development and construction of the Lagos Biennial’s future home: Àkéte Collection – Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Lagos.