Rich text BY KELECHI NWANERI, NATHALIE DJAKOU KASSI, & OLAWUNMI BANJO

STASIS

31ST AUGUST TO 18TH OCTOBER, 2019

The three artists originating from different parts of West Africa, one classically trained and two self-taught, with an age difference spanning almost twenty years, draw us into a complex dialogue from three radically different viewpoints.Through detailed paintings, layered and complex drawings, and experimental ceramic works, each artist explores the tension between the conscious and subconscious mind. Each artwork questions how to achieve balance despite societal pressures, mental health challenges, and the effects of climate change on our well-being.

“STASIS provides a creative platform for three artists with very different styles and philosophies to examine the concept of equilibrium and counter-balance, “commented Sandra Mbanefo Obiago, the exhibition curator and Founder of SMO Contemporary Art. “Kassi’s voluminous sculptural ceramics provide a fantastic counter-point to Banjo’s finely painted self-portraits and Nwaneri’s mythological, surreal landscapes.”

Curator: Sandra Mbanefo Obiago (SMO Contemporary Art)