Kanbi Projects, the London based curatorial and art advisory practice specialising in artists from Africa and the diaspora, is pleased to present a solo exhibition of new works by the critically acclaimed Nigerian artist Gbolahan Ayoola at Art X Lagos Art Fair in Nigeria.
This year's Art X Lagos will be presented in physical form from 4 - 7 November at the Federal Palace in Victoria Island, Lagos and the online edition takes place from 4 - 21 November at www.artxlagos.com.
Gbolahan Ayoola's new series of large-scale paintings reflect the artist's love of blending figuration, abstraction and traditional motifs. We are Reagents is Ayoola's response to the global pandemic and the subsequent rising socio-political issues generated and elevated by the crisis, raising questions on cultural identity and his place as a black man in the world.
Ayoola began working on the new body of work in April 2020, drawing inspiration from dreamscapes, history and memories. As Ayoola observes the ever-changing world around him, before him and ahead of him, there is a deep sense of nostalgia and cultural pride in his work, drawing on memories of political and racial tensions. He invites us to connect with our past and as people, bridging the generational gaps in our communication and our stories.
Adeola Ayoola, Founder Kanbi Projects said, "We are excited to be showing this new body of work by Ayoola at the premier fair in West Africa. It is a homecoming for Kanbi Projects, this is the first exhibition project for us in Nigeria and it's very fitting that we are collaborating with a Lagos-based artist for the fair. Ayoola's We are Reagents series reflects on the times we are living in, drawing from his memories and subconscious to deliver a thought-provoking series of paintings."
To view We are Reagents, visit Kanbi Projects at Art X Lagos, Booth No. 3 or online at www.artxlagos.com and on www.artsy.net from 4-21 November 2021.
About Gbolahan Ayoola
Ayoola is Nigerian-based painter and sculptor best known for merging figuration, abstraction and traditional motifs in his work with a focus on abstract expressionism and surrealism. Through a practice spanning 20 years, Ayoola continues to question the issue of cultural identity and placement, taking inspiration from the disciplines of archaeology and anthropology, seeking the past and the lost to guide current action.
Ayoola received his BA in Fine and Applied Arts from the Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria and later completed a residency with renowned Nigerian painter Tola Wewe. He has exhibited across Africa as well as in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and the United States and his works can be found in major corporate and private collections including the World Bank, African Finance Corporation and the Nigerian National Gallery of Arts.
About Kanbi Projects
Kanbi Projects specialises in contemporary art by artists of African descent or from the global Diaspora. Founded in 2017 by Adeola Arthur Ayoola as a nomadic curatorial practice, the project pivoted in 2020 to champion a small group of exceptional emerging and mid-career artists. Kanbi Projects adopts a collaborative ethos. Together with the cohort of artists and other partners we collaborate with, we present an innovative and ambitious curatorial programme - physical and online. Through our exhibition projects and publications, we seek to facilitate the dissemination of artistic research and diverse practices addressing relevant social issues of the Black lived experience. Kanbi Projects delivers its projects through a network of project spaces and partners. www.kanbiart.com
Press Contacts
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