Invitation to Invade
BY ADEDOLAPO BOLUWATIFE
Growing up in Lagos, Adedolapo witnessed the devastating impact of flooding, often caused by plastic waste. This realization ignited a passion for addressing environmental issues through photography, ultimately leading to the creation of the project Invitation to Invade. For the series, Adedolapo collected plastic waste, transforming it into a visual narrative before depositing it at a recycling plant — a process designed to provoke thought and raise awareness about pollution.
Adedolapo’s art is deeply rooted in personal experiences, shaped by individual reflections and interactions with the world. This connection to nature was further reinforced during the 2020 pandemic, when returning to a parents’ home revealed the healing power of a garden sanctuary. The experience inspired Adedolapo to foster meaningful conversations about environmental issues.
Invitation to Invade is a conceptual fine art photography series that challenges viewers to confront plastic pollution. Through symbolism and striking imagery, the series blends beauty with unsettling truths about waste’s dominance over humanity, urging audiences to rethink their relationship with the planet and take responsibility for its future.
ABOUT ADEDOLAPO
Adedolapo Boluwatife is a photographer and filmmaker based in Lagos, Nigeria. Born in Ojodu in 1996, his creative journey began while studying English and Literary Studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, where he discovered photography as a quiet but powerful form of self-expression. Deeply influenced by modernist and avant-garde artists such as Alfred Stieglitz, Ansel Adams, and Rotimi Fani-Kayode, Adedolapo’s work bridges introspection with social commentary.
Centered around nature and marked by natural light and emotionally charged compositions, his photography explores themes of mental health, freedom, gender, and environmental degradation. His images are both poetic and political—acts of resistance and reflection that invite audiences into conversations about resilience, authenticity, and cultural identity.
Adedolapo has been recognized as a finalist for the LensCulture Fine Art Award (2024) and the CAP Prize (2024). His work has appeared in Nataal UK, Nowness, and MAPS Magazine (South Korea), and has been exhibited internationally in Paris, Lagos, and Côte d’Ivoire. Currently, his practice focuses on visual projects that respond to the psychological and ecological pressures of contemporary life, using art to navigate—and illuminate—the complexities of the world around him.