The 10th edition of ART X Lagos provided a meaningful platform for The Art of Healing (TAOH Africa) to combine artistic collaboration with direct social impact. In collaboration with our founder, visual artist Nengi Omuku and celebrated fashion designer Ituen Basi, TAOH presented a focused fundraising activation: limited-edition Edong sheep stools, handcrafted to raise funds for the renewal of psychiatric wards in Lagos and to expand access to compassionate mental health care across our communities.
This collaboration was conceived as a focused fundraising initiative aligned with TAOH’s ongoing mission to create therapeutic ambiences, inspire hope, and improve the living conditions of both service users and care providers. Bridging design and healing, the project transforms creative practice into tangible social impact. In keeping with this commitment, 100% of proceeds from the sale of the Edong sheep stools are directed toward supporting patient care and the renewal of psychiatric facilities.
The Object — A Limited-Edition Edong Sheep Stool
Drawing on Nengi Omuku’s painterly language and Ituen Basi’s textile expertise, each stool blends functional form with cultural and aesthetic storytelling. 15 stools were produced for this edition. Each individually made and intended as both a collectible and a symbol of solidarity with mental healthcare reform.
Exhibition — “External Realities, Internal Geographies”
The stools were showcased at Nengi Omuku’s booth within ART X Lagos, West Africa’s leading international art fair as part of her exhibition. Positioning the stools within this exhibition context underscored the project’s conceptual alignment: objects that sit between public-facing craft and private interior life, mirroring the tension between social systems and the inner worlds of mental healthcare.
The Workshop — Expression Unconstrained
Alongside the exhibition and fundraiser, TAOH convened an intimate workshop session for approximately 20 participants. The session was designed as an open, pressure-free space where attendees were invited to create works “from the heart,” free from instructional constraints, rules, or performative expectation. The aim was to model the therapeutic potential of creative expression which is simple and honest, making it a form of collective care and personal reflection.
We are deeply grateful to share that all 15 limited-edition stools sold out in the first week of November. The rapid uptake affirmed the resonance of the project’s dual purpose as a meaningful support for community wellbeing. With every purchase, donors converted design interest into concrete resources for the renewal of psychiatric wards in Lagos.
TAOH Africa extends profound thanks to:
- Nengi Omuku and Ituen Basi for their generosity, craft, and shared vision;
- The ART X Lagos founder, Tokini Peterside-Schwebig and the ART X Lagos team for providing a platform that amplifies socially engaged practice;
- Everyone who purchased a stool and participated in the workshop, your contribution supports a critical cause.
If you would like to learn more about the initiative, or discuss future collaborations, please contact TAOH Africa through our email: support@taohafrica.com or send us a DM on Instagram @taohafrica