ChidiKwubiri, Hypnotize, 2018, acrylic on canvas, 200 x 250cm. Copyright the artist, courtesy Gallery 1957, Accra
This summer, SMO Contemporary Art is delighted to curate a major solo exhibition motionEmotion, by Chidi Kwubiri, a Germany-based artist, which is being presented by Gallery 1957 in Accra this week.
motionEmotion is the culmination of a lifelong dream of Kwubiri’s, in which he speaks to the power of music on the creative soul. The exhibition of 18 spectacular large canvases and a performance piece reflect the spirit dance of celebration, joy, melancholy, energy, hope, and protest that music evokes in people wherever they gather.
In motionEmotion, Kwubiri takes us on a journey across sound, rhythm, performance and dance, by presenting paintings which speak to the outer and inner manifestation of music on identity, the rise of freedom movements, and the impact of lyrics on society across different generations.
The works introduce a multi-layered, almost opaque world of colour and silhouette that gently seeps into visual consciousness. Utilising his characteristic dripping paint technique on large canvases, Kwubiri reveals expertly rendered hazy outlines of figures in motion and dance, in a sea of minute dots and drips.
Kwubiri presents a new monochromatic body of work with minimalist colour highlights alongside his signature colour palette, which reinforce the power of unity and hope against the socio-political tensions surrounding global immigration issues. His bold interpretations also touch on the impact of music on global youth movements by interpreting cross-generational rhythms, culture and political consciousness.
The exhibition at Gallery 1957 shows Kwubiri on a journey of sensory memory through paintings of cultural crusaders – such as afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and reggae prophet Bob Marley – juxtaposed against contemporary dances with their roots in Africa,including twerking, popping & locking, hip hop, and rap. motionEmotion is set against a backdrop of live music, freestyle instrumental and art based performance.
“We are delighted to present Nigerian art to a broader audience across Africa,” said Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, founder and artistic director, SMO Contemporary Art. “We need more art institutions to collaborate across the continent, so that our amazing artists have a wider pool of collectors and supporters of their work.”
The exhibition opened on June 28, and runs until July 30, 2018
