Finding Etherea

Today’s pick from the little library. A beautiful selection of speeches, conversations, letters, essays, and poems, from one of the foremost thinkers of the 20th century, and perhaps all time ‼️ #audrelorde

This symbol is the classical music notation for a crotchet rest. “… and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.” Savasana, the resting and restorative pose, is the final and arguably most important pose in a yoga session. There are infinite sources and references pertaining to rest, throughout the course of human history. For those of us in a safe and therefore privileged enough place to read this, how can we begin (or continue), to actively write rest into our day to day? 🧘🏿‍♂️

Welcome to the virtual iteration of Finding Etherea, which has the intention of fostering conversations about how rest is included within our daily lives. The concept has been manifesting in the form of a retreat space in Grand Popo, Benin Republic, since 2022. Inviting all those who seek to bring a conscious approach to rest within their process, to follow the page and actively engage in this discourse, for the sake of collectively imagining shared, peaceful futures. Over the past two years, the retreat has hosted artists, writers, filmmakers, curators, dancers, architects, designers, and other creative professionals. Practitioners in the disciplines of energy based practices such as yoga, tai chi, and massage; food and nutrition; mental and physical health; botany, herbalism and horticulture; and astronomy and astrology are also all encouraged to get in touch to connect, and commune in Grand Popo. Indeed, all humans who have decided to make rest a priority in their lives. Stay tuned for more ✨ With love

Nous avons le plaisir d’accueillir notre nouvelle résidente, Olabissi Bello ✨ Paysagiste et créatrice d’expériences, Olabissi développe une pratique qui met au cœur la nature et les femmes. À travers des formats immersifs, elle explore les liens subtils qui les unissent. Son travail crée des espaces sensibles où repos, calme, plaisir et engagement cohabitent, laissant place à des rencontres entre le vivant, les corps et les récits. Au Bénin, comme dans de nombreux contextes africains, l’éducation des filles reste souvent centrée sur l’instruction formelle et la transmission des traditions. Les dimensions liées à la connaissance de soi, à l’épanouissement personnel ou à l’exploration de la féminité y sont encore peu valorisées. Pourtant, ces besoins sont bien réels pour les jeunes femmes aujourd’hui. C’est dans cette perspective que s’inscrit le projet « Ce qu’elles transmettent ». Plus qu’un projet de découverte, il s’agit d’une immersion au cœur du quotidien des femmes de Grand-Popo. En observant, en écoutant et en partageant leurs expériences, son projet cherche à révéler la richesse de ce qu’elles se transmettent entre elles — ces gestes, ces savoirs et ces attentions qui façonnent, souvent discrètement, l’épanouissement des autres femmes.

@yadichinma in residence, dreaming in watercolour

Announcing our latest artist-in-residence 📣 Yadichinma Ukoha-Kalu is a multidisciplinary artist and illustrator based in Lagos. Her artistic practice centres around the exploration of line, form, space, and boundaries, expressed through a diverse range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, and technology. Yadichinma consistently crafts multi dimensional environments that blend abstract elements, textures, and materials to create engaging interactions. Her fascination with materials propels her to deepen her understanding of the objects in her surroundings. She holds the belief that each object possesses its own unique world and system. This perspective is particularly pronounced in the realm of artefacts, where archival systems are generated through craft practices rooted in outdated cultures, particularly within the African context. “I see this residency as an opportunity to step away from the pace of Lagos and spend focused, uninterrupted time developing my work. I’m especially drawn to the space’s principle of rest, something I’m still learning to give myself. I’m also excited by the opportunity to remain within a West African context, I’ve been really inspired by my visits to Senegal and Ghana, and I’m eager to continue exploring the region’s cultures and communities.” 📸 @tobionabolu

The Residency Re-Sourced team recently embarked on a weekend visit to Grand-Popo, where we spent time at the partner space Finding Etherea (@findingetherea ), a residency space uniquely centered on the relationship between rest and creativity. Drawn by the distinct philosophy of the space, the visit offered the team an opportunity to experience the environment and approach of Finding Etherea firsthand. We were warmly received by its founder, Tobi Onabolu (@tobionabolu ), who guided us through a curated exploration of the residency and its surroundings. From introductions to the diverse plant life that shapes Finding Etherea, to quiet boat rides along the rivers and reflective walks on the beach, the experience revealed how Finding Etherea carefully situates itself between creative practice and the idea of rest. The residency proposes rest not as a pause from artistic production, but as an integral condition for it. Using Grand-Popo itself as an extended canvas, Onabolu also shared stories of past interventions across the town, highlighting locations that have hosted art festivals, pop-up exhibitions, film and performances by resident artists. Through these gestures, Finding Etherea extends beyond the boundaries of a conventional residency, embedding artistic practice within the rhythms of place, environment, and community. For the Residency Re-Sourced team, the visit offered a valuable encounter with a model of space-making that foregrounds care, slowness, and the ecology of creativity. #residencyresourced #findingetherea #grandpopo #artistresidency #goetheinstitutnigeria

Lọpọ Lọpọ continues until 27 February with two exhibitions at @findingetherea “Sunturè” by Safi Niang (@safiniang ) and “Enchantresse” by Shawn Hounkpatin (@shawnpicture__ ) To book a visit, please send a DM to @findingetherea 📸 @hitchoflife

Enchantress, Shawn 2026 // This exploration was born from a desire to slow down and reconnect with what truly matters. Through a fictional figure inspired by Beninese spiritual traditions, I explore ritual, nature, and contemplation as a quiet journey between the visible and the invisible. At the crossroads of magical realism, poetry, and mythology, this exhibition is an invitation to pause, observe, and reconnect with the subtle magic that surrounds us. I would like to sincerely thank @tobionabolu for his invaluable support throughout the development of this artistic exploration and my first exhibition, during the @lopolopo_gp in Grand Popo, within the @findingetherea residency. Thank you to @ss.willina for this beautiful production and her commitment. A special thank you to @johanna_bramble ( @johannabramblecreations ) for her remarkable textile work, which made the creation of the costume possible. Thank you to @nrknmb for her energy, presence, and role as both muse and producer on the ground in Dakar. Thanks to @itsbeautybyrafi for this beautiful makeup work. A big shout out to @fhemy.km and @alex_photography2310 for their support 🤍

Renowned Nigerian musician @ladydonli brought an electrifying performance to Lọpọ Lọpọ 2026 as part of “Echos du Jardin,” a filmed concert series presented by @findingetherea with a pan-African focus on female artists, DJs, and performers. Conceived as a test pilot as an alternative to filmed concerts (eg. Boiler Room or Tiny Desk Concert), Echos du Jardin created an intimate garden setting that felt worlds away from traditional concert venues. Surrounded by The Lagos Panic(@lagospanic ), Lady Donli performed to a packed garden, delivering songs that had the crowd dancing and singing along, transforming the serene space into something electric. The stripped-back setting against the verdant backdrop showed how intimate live music can feel when fully immersed in nature. 📸 @hitchoflife #lọpọlọpọ2026

An Installation and Performance of “Sunturè” by @safiniang ; the artist’s first performance and first iteration of this work - a world premiere. Presented as a network of textile roots and as a performance involving the planting of peanut seeds, “Sunturé” invited us to introspect on our ways of relating to the world. The artist’s first presentation of this work, and Niang’s first ever performance piece, unfolded on the rooftop of @findingetherea , with the audience gathered around, some sitting. The work asked us to consider the connections we maintain with our heritage, the communities that support us, and the environments we inhabit. It urged us to recognize that care, far from being a simple domestic task, is a fundamental ethical and political practice—the primary condition for cultivating a sustainable future. #lọpọlọpọ2026

Join us on Thursday 8 January at 5pm for a sunset performance between n:u (mélissandre varin) and DJABI at the Bouche du Roy Held by prayers and friendships n:u (melissandre varin) signs their softest artwork to date: a performance that emerges from years of walking through familial, colonial, and spiritual fires. In their first visit to Benin to trace the histories of the person who became their grandfather through violence, n:u instead ended up identifying Densu as their guiding divinity (from the Vodun pantheon) - an androgynous-masculine divinity.  Collaborating with Tobi Onabolu, Benin-based artist-curator; DJABI, Beninese sound artist; vodun priest T.Oliver, and producer Willina Sossou. n:u (melissandre varin) invites us to dive into queer spiritualities where time and space erodes through ceremonies for reparation - with both hands. Credit: Care support: Nadege Ibironke Ayodele d’Almeida, Jean-Paul Logistics support: Ange, Bill, Vincent, Paulin Producer: Willina Sossou · Spiritual care: Hounnon Aboor Koami Akossika, Barrigah kékély mablé constance, navi Confection: JH ELOMBE Blessings: Mr. Ambroise Eshu Refreshments and Inspiration: Julien, Frederique Photographer: Ugochukwu Emebiriodo Fire starter · Rain maker · Seamstress: Shilo couture Camera: Wens Technical support: Valdo Idael, pirogue Wayfinder: Mahoulé Giving thanks to the River Mono, the Ocean, Grand Popo, ancestral lands and skies, and those who rest and remain - for guidance. En partenariat avec l’Ambassade de France et l’Institut français du Bénin – programme Inspiration Bénin, au cœur des mondes Africains