PORTRAIT OF A WOMAN: BRIA FERNANDES | LAJU SHOLOLA

In celebration of Women's History Month, Kanbi Projects is pleased to present Portrait of A Woman, an online exclusive collaboration with Bria Fernandes and Laju Sholola.

Through paintings and drawings, this curated collection delves into the intricacies of femininity, offering a contemporary dialogue on the evolving perceptions of womanhood in today's society. In Portrait of A Woman, themes of identity, resilience, and the social constructs that shape women's lives are explored through the artists' distinct styles and mediums, prompting us to question the notion of ideal femininity: what is contemporary womanhood in the face of shifting societal values and changing perceptions of femininity in the today’s society?

Bria Fernandes, a Canadian artist of rich heritage, navigates the realms of silence, oppression, and vulnerability through her figurative paintings. Through subtle nuances and absence of facial expressions, Fernandes amplifies the voices of those who have felt silenced or invisible, her exploration of emotions evolves with a fluidity that mirrors the shifting landscapes of femininity in contemporary society, inviting viewers to contemplate the silent narratives embedded within her subjects.

Laju Sholola, a self-taught visual artist from Nigeria, employs an unorthodox medium of black tea, ink, and charcoal to craft ethereal portraits that speak volumes about visibility, vulnerability, and strength. In her minimalist approach, she ventures into an interrogation of the interior landscapes of the human mind; shifting from a reflection of her inner journey to an exploration of the moods and emotional states of her subjects.

Transcending historical and geographical boundaries, Fernandes and Sholola navigate the complexities of Black femininity while weaving perspectives that celebrate the multifaceted nature of womanhood, reflecting existential societal values and changing perceptions of femininity in today's world - offering a contemporary reimagining of the idealised female figure and identity in a globalised era.