Hybrid Motors, Artnovation unveil ‘Bridge of Motion’ to fuse African art with sustainable mobility

Hybrid Motors Nigeria Limited and Artnovation are set to bring together African artistic expression, European innovation and sustainable mobility in Milan, Italy, with the unveiling of The Bridge of Motion, a new work examining the intersection of art, electric vehicles, renewable energy and sustainable development.

The artwork, which is the 17th instalment in Artnovation’s Thread of Continents series, will be unveiled during the opening of the exhibition Echoes of Renaissance in the Hues of Africa on September 16, 2026.

According to a statement issued by the two organisations on Monday, the unveiling will mark another stage in an initiative that has sought to use art as a medium for exploring the historical and emerging relationship between Africa and Europe.

The exhibition is scheduled to open at 5 p.m. Central European Summer Time (CEST), with the public exhibition running from September 17 to 29.

Curated by Foluke Michael, Chief Curator of Artnovation, the Thread of Continents series has, through its first 16 works, examined different dimensions of Africa-Europe relations.

The works have explored themes such as memory, encounter, trade, cultural exchange and cooperation, creating an evolving artistic narrative around the links between the two continents.

However, the 17th work introduces a significant shift in focus by extending the conversation into mobility, renewable energy, innovation and sustainable development.

The deliberate choice of the number 17 also carries a global development message, as it references the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which provide a framework for addressing challenges ranging from poverty and inequality to clean energy, sustainable cities and climate action.

Michael said the new work represented a progression in the story being told through the Thread of Continents series.

“The journey does not end at sixteen. No. 17 carries the story towards a new horizon, where ideas gather momentum, possibilities take shape, and the future begins to move,” she said.

She explained that the project was designed to encourage a broader understanding of mobility, rather than presenting it merely as a question of vehicles and transportation.

“For us, The Bridge of Motion is not simply about a vehicle. It is about what mobility can represent when creativity, renewable energy, sustainable development and innovation enter the same conversation – and what Africa and Europe might create together,” Michael said.

The collaboration also highlights Hybrid Motors’ ambition to develop mobility solutions that respond to African realities while creating opportunities for international partnerships.

The company’s founder, Jubril Arogundade, said its objectives extended beyond the development of vehicles to include sustainable and locally relevant mobility solutions for West Africa.

He added that the company was also interested in strengthening technical, institutional and commercial relationships with European stakeholders.

“Our vision extends beyond vehicle development to sustainable, indigenous mobility solutions for West Africa, alongside opportunities for deeper European technical, institutional and commercial collaboration,” Arogundade said.

He described the Milan event as an important starting point for a wider conversation around the future of mobility and cooperation between Africa and Europe.

“The Milan unveiling marks the beginning of a conversation toward a potential sustainable Africa-Europe mobility partnership, where art helps us imagine what innovation can make possible,” he said.

The project is also linked to broader international discussions around sustainable infrastructure and clean energy.

According to the organisations, the initiative aligns with areas associated with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, particularly sustainable transport and renewable energy.

The discussions surrounding the project are expected to explore possible avenues for European technology and expertise, institutional cooperation and sustainable financing to support mobility and renewable-energy initiatives.

The partnership follows the AfroItalian Renaissance, which was launched in December 2025 in collaboration with the Italian Consulate General in Lagos.

The initiative initially centred on cultural exchange but has since expanded into a broader engagement involving creativity, innovation, enterprise and opportunities for collaboration between African and European stakeholders.

The latest project seeks to demonstrate how cultural initiatives can provide a platform for conversations about some of the major technological and developmental challenges confronting societies.

By placing sustainable mobility at the centre of an artistic project, Artnovation and Hybrid Motors are seeking to connect cultural diplomacy with emerging technologies and environmental sustainability.

The partners said Echoes of Renaissance in the Hues of Africa would centre on a fundamental question: what happens when Africa and Europe choose to design the future together?

They said The Bridge of Motion offers an artistic response to the question by presenting creativity as the bridge between the two continents, with sustainable mobility providing the momentum.

Beyond its artistic significance, the Milan unveiling is expected to draw attention to the growing conversation around electric mobility, renewable energy and locally developed transportation solutions in Africa.

For Hybrid Motors, the initiative provides an opportunity to position Nigerian mobility innovation within an international setting, while for Artnovation, it extends the Thread of Continents narrative from historical and cultural connections into the possibilities created by technology, sustainability and innovation.

The September exhibition will therefore serve not only as an artistic showcase but also as a platform for exploring how Africa and Europe can collaborate in developing solutions for a more sustainable future.