Why we organised Battle Scar Exhibition

L-R One of the photographers, Yemi Disu, Damilola Kuku and Yetunde Babaeko

'Getting Ready' by Yetunde Babaeko (2014)

Guests

There is no better way to give hope to breast cancer patients than to donate or raise funds for their treatments.

 It is on this note that a unique breast cancer awareness photo exhibition organized by one of Nigeria’s best contemporary photographers and creative director of Camara Studios, Yetunde Ayeni-Babaeko with some of her colleagues, Yemi Disu, owner of Four23 photography and Damilola Kuku, creative director of Supzie XPression Studio, is presently going on at Goethe-Institut Nigeria, 4th Floor, City Hall, 30 Catholic Mission Street, Lagos Island.

Tagged: “Battle Scars,” the photography exhibition by the X-Perspective which began at 2 pm last Saturday, March 8, 2014 will end on Saturday, March 29, 2014.

Goethe-Institut’s programme Assistant, Aderinsola Ajao, officially opened the exhibition by saying that Battle Scar; a charity event was an initiative of Yetunde Babaeko’s Camara Studios, supported by 1K4Cancer, Sebeccly Cancer Care Foundation and Goethe-Institut Lagos, to create more awareness for breast cancer early diagnosis and treatment. “Kindly support this project to help reduce the menace of breast cancer in our society. We are happy to have you here,” Ajao urged everyone.

Watching pictures of treated breast cancer survivors will not only arouse one’s emotion but will ginger one to support the wonderful project embarked by the organizers of the exhibition

The initiator of the exhibition, Yetunde Babaeko, stressed that the exhibition aimed to bring the masses closer to the subject, to inspire everyone to help in curbing breast cancer and above all, to raise funds.

“Ojeikere is being interred so let’s observe a moment of silence. Some were asking me what I stand to achieve in this exhibition, noting that nobody wants to see pictures of treated breast cancer survivors including me and the breast cancer survivors and nobody wants to buy the pictures. Proceeds from these artworks are going to be used for the treatment of breast cancer patients and their drugs,” she explained.

She maintained that: “According to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards, one radiotherapy machine per million people, but Nigeria with over 160 million people have only two radiotherapy machines working.  Of course! People may say government supposed to provide the machines but there should be a way out by supporting for the treatment of breast cancer.

“Photography has been an experience, that is why we are doing this to give life a meaning to people with breast cancer.  You can purchase an item like a post card from this exhibition from 500 naira. Proceeds from the sale of images and postcards are solely for the treatment of patients on the Sebeccly Cancer Care Foundation’s waiting list,” said Babeko.

Explaining how the breast cancer survivors felt when they were taking the photographs, Babaeko’s colleagues, Yemi Disu and Damilola Kuku said they were not comfortable, but they like the initiative.

“Some said it is something very abstract. This exhibition is called ‘Battle Scars’ because the breast cancer patients are fighting for their lives and are ready for any initiative that can be used to minimise the incidence of breast cancer,” they said.

A team of experts from Sebeccly Cancer Care and Support Centre, 29, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos also addressed the audience. One of them, Mrs. Clementina Ometu, said they work for common passion, which is, to curb breast cancer. “Most pictures you are seeing here are real and some of them are here with us, but the challenges we have is funding. We are here to raise fund for breast cancer patient so that they can get a quality living,” said Clementina.

Also speaking, Dr. Adeola Fakolade, said Sebeccly has worked closely with photographers to connect members of breast cancer support group in order to provide an insight into the challenges faced by cancer survivors in the past two years.

She however revealed that breast cancer patients are not stigmatised but are traumatised and urged everyone to support in any way they could to help cancer patients, adding that breast cancer treatment is very expensive. She implored the public to join hands in the fight against breast cancer.