African Business, 24/06/2024
Stepping inside the main hall of London’s October Gallery in May and June, visitors were met with a riot of colour. The exhibition Emergent Energies, running until 29 June, presents an innovative and unique selection of works by young artists from across the African continent and within the African diaspora. Each exhibit, eye-catching and utterly unique, captured the vitality and invigoration that each young artist brings to their work as they begin to make their presence known on the international art scene. For that is what this exhibition encapsulated – youth, promise, and hope for the future.
Theresa Weber’s sculpture Stream of Consciousness (2024) is a thing of beauty in glorious technicolour, crafted from beads, mosaic and clay, among other materials. Weber, whose heritage is German-Jamaican-Greek, says that her works reflect her approach to “the ever-changing nexus of identity,” blending elements from all of her cultural identities. Part sculpture, part performance piece, her Woven Bodies (2022) is likewise crafted from durable materials that suggest tenacity and resilience, while weaving a web of rich, layered storytelling.
Telling stories
Telling stories is also the nexus of the works of photographer and director, Dafe Oboro. Nigerian-born Oboro was conscious of how stereotypes can lead to false narratives and perceptions, and set out to reform Africa’s representation in mainstream media through the visual mediums of film and photography. His Pour me Water, Pure Water is a series of photographs depicting locals bathing in Lagos after a long day’s work, captured in intricate detail by the camera’s lens. Blending artistic expression with realism, the bright images simultaneously critique the lack of access to clean water and celebrate the resilience of Nigerians living in this urban environment. Continue Reading >>
