Friday 6th – Saturday 14th October
Open to the public: Fridays and Saturdays 10-3pm
Exhibition: Black History Month
“I interweave symbolisms of a sacred and cosmological nature to explore notions of beauty, spirituality, and the metaphysical plane in an avant-garde, postmodern, neo-surrealist style. Always in my work is the pursuit of what is considered ‘beautiful’ – and what is known to surrealists as the ‘marvellous’. For me, a highly subjective term, the notion of beauty is inextricably linked to the exploration of a ‘Blackness’ which is both mutable and wherever necessary, strategically placed in its affirmation of a positive re-presentation of ‘Black’ identity.
With an emphasis on play, the fecundity of my post-black aesthetic is informed by an interest in Afro-Surrealism, Vodou, Nkisi objects of the Congo, and the symbolism of Kemet, the original name of Ancient Egypt when it was peopled by Nubians and ruled by Black Pharaohs such as King Piye and Queen Hatshepsut. Having an awareness of writers such as James Baldwin, Amiri Baraka, Octavia Butler, and Clarence Major, as well as the visual art of Thorton Dial, Faith Ringold, and Lonnie Holley (to mention a very few), informs the socially conscious aspect of my approach to poetry and visual artmaking.
Above all else, I believe in an art that engages the viewer on many levels. An art that is downright serious in its interrogation of what it means to be a ‘Black’ artist in the 21st century and yet, is able to loosen up and simply revel in the mystery of creation itself. I work in various mediums ranging from acrylic on canvas boards to found art objects which often manifest in mixed media works consisting of wood, plastic, glass, cowrie shells and artist resin.”
Opening Night: Friday 6th October 6-8pm