A duo exhibition by Aza Mansongi and Folake Idowu
Vernissage : 1st November 2024, 6pm to 8pm, in the presence of the artists
On view thru 21 December 2024
Text by Samia Tawil
The exhibition Défier l’ombre presents the work of two artists grappling with deep questions of identity in rapidly changing societies. Through their art, they confront the woes and contrasts of our times, each in their own way, rekindling memories of a past some think our present can leave behind. Here, roots are claimed and celebrated, affirming the right to an identity more anchored in the complexity of reality, chosen rather than imposed. Women, often central figures in their work, embody this affirmation, defying the contradictions of their societies with near-radical optimism.
Aza Mansongi’s work is a vivid depiction of frenzy. Upon closer inspection, pressing social issues and inner struggles emerge, for example, the unequal access to technology, or the necessity of women to sell their bodies in order to survive.
Despite these serious themes, Mansongi’s vivid colours and dynamic compositions bring an air of optimism to each situation. The spontaneity of these scenes bridges the gap between subject and object, offering an empathetic connection. The omnipresent eyes in her compositions intensify this effect, their piercing gaze reminding of the urgency we are being made a witness to. The urgency to live.
In Folake Idowu’s embroidered portraits of women on plain monochrome backgrounds confront the viewer directly, as their expressions progressively unveil their stories.
Idowu’s women are proud, confident and independent, defying the gaze that the other places upon them. Often made invisible or stereotyped, they impose themselves here in their entirety. Their traditional hairstyles, many of them inspired by archival photographs, challenge the Western exoticisation of Black women, who are often trapped between their core identity and fake persona. In her embroidered portraits, braids, cornrows, or headscarves are strong revendications and bold statements of their individuality.
By exploring the meandering complexity of quests for identity, both artists challenge collective prejudices and the schemas of an excluding otherness. In doing so, they prompt us to reflect on the future we wish for ourselves. As Angela Davis puts it: “Hope is a discipline”. In the work of these two artists, hope is not passive: it is an active force for the strength that optimism requires. It calls for us to draw beauty from hardship and, ultimately, to recognize the shared struggles in the depths of each of us.
All exhibitions and related events are free of charge
Everybody is welcome
Exhibition launch
Photos by Clara Watt
Exhibition catalogue
Click on any image to scroll through the catalogue.
