On the 2nd of July 2023, Laila Cadne Rahman proudly presented “Beauty In Its Time” — her debut solo exhibition which celebrates the art, diversity, and richness of beauty in the Nigerian culture using hair and makeup as its medium.

The Beauty In Its Time project is a unique and thought-provoking exploration of the cultural significance and artistry behind Nigerian historical hairstyles and makeup techniques, especially from 1960-the 2020s.

Curated by Ugonna Ibe — Founder of Yenwa Gallery — the project showcased a collection of 20 photographs and a documentary featuring Laila’s journey of beauty in Lagos while spotlighting the strength, beauty, and confidence of Nigerian women throughout the ages.

By examining the influence of Western beauty standards and celebrating the enduring beauty of traditional Nigerian hairstyles, the project aims to bridge the gap between the past and present.

Inspired by her late mother who worked as a distributor for Mary Kay products in the early 2000s, Laila’s Beauty In Its Time is her way of preserving the memory of her mom while celebrating Nigerian culture and artistic expression.

I am honoured to unveil Beauty In Its Time, an exhibition that holds a special place in my heart as a tribute to my late mother. Through this project, I aim to capture the essence of enduring beauty traditions and proudly showcase our rich history. My intention is to inspire and educate, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a celebration that transcends time and resonates with the beauty we have inherited.

— Laila Cadne Rahman.

The exhibition which features captivating photographs and an enlightening documentary screening, launched at Yenwa Gallery located at 1-7 Muri Okunola, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, July 2nd 2023 and is open to the public until August 6th 2023.

The documentary spotlights a lineup of notable figures and talents in the Nigerian beauty industry, including Bobby Eke of Bobby’s Signature, Elaine Shobanjo of Shomya Lagos, Banke Meshida Lawal of BM Pro Makeup Group, Kemi Lewis of KLs Naturals Beauty Bar, Jennifer Uloko of Yanga Beauty and Adebayo Babalola Haastrup, Jane Ogu of Flawlessfacebyjane among others. Hit the ▶ button below to watch a sneak peek:

Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the intricate beauty and cultural heritage portrayed via the photographs, while the documentary offers an educational, informative, and entertaining narrative.

Introducing the exhibition, renowned Nigerian podcaster, media personality, and screenwriter, Jola Ayeye, aptly captures the essence of Laila’s remarkable journey, stating:

This exhibition is the culmination of several incredible things for Laila; over a decade of personal experience in the Nigerian beauty industry, more than 4 years of steady work towards this exhibition, and over a century of experience and knowledge from experts in her short film.

It is no small feat to constantly push oneself as she has; seamlessly moving between the world of makeup artistry, photography and filmmaking. I am excited for everyone to experience her interpretation of Nigerian beauty across the last few decades.

See Photos from the opening ceremony below:

About the Artist:
Laila Cadne-Rahman is an accomplished multidisciplinary creative, beauty entrepreneur, creative director, and filmmaker. Known for her expertise as the head makeup artist at Laila Cadne Atelier, she brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her artistic endeavours.

Laila Cadne’s film-making career took off in 2018 with the Short Film Documentary “MMA NMA – Beauty of a Mother“, which received accolades and was showcased at the African International Film Festival (AFRIFF).

Her notable works include the project “ANTI” released in 2019, as well as collaborations with renowned brands and personalities such as Tems, Bayo Oke Lawal, Temi Adeniji, and many others.