The artist’s first solo exhibition in London is a significant milestone in her artistic journey.
AFTER solo outings in Lagos and Los Angeles, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife-trained artist Marcellina Akpojotor is set for her first solo exhibition in the United Kingdom.
‘Joy of more Worlds’ will be at the Rele Gallery, Dover Street, London, from Thursday, April 11, to May 18, 2024. It will open on the evening of April 11 at 6 p.m., with an artist walkthrough available for interested patrons.
The exhibition, accompanied by a monograph co-published by Rele Gallery and Skira, continues Akpojotor’s investigation into generational legacy and the evolving nature of archives. Building upon inquiries of her maternal bloodline, this new body of work traces a family life timeline that connects and captures the spirit of contemporary African women, exploring female empowerment and the role of motherhood in society.
The large-scale paintings are densely collaged with the Ankara fabric to display intimate celebrations of memories delicately.The new works also delve into the domestic sphere, encapsulating snapshots of daily life within the artist’s home, ranging from playful moments to tender intimacy.
Drawing on photographic source material, her paintings blur the boundary between objective documentary and personal experience. Each composition serves as a poignant testament to the beauty of the mundane, offering viewers a glimpse into private spaces and narratives of childhood and community.
Akpojotor was first introduced to visual arts by her father, who worked as a sign maker and later studied Art and Industrial Design at Lagos State Polytechnic. She meticulously transforms the Ankara fabric into an abstract language on canvas, bridging the past and the contemporary.
The material, worn daily in Nigeria, serves as a cultural signifier and a conduit for memory. Choosing to use offcuts of Ankara, a powerful marker of African identity, speaks to her belief in the medium of the cloth for telling private family histories.
The paintings, coupled with the textile collage, not only create a strong visual impact against the paint but, more importantly, function as a critical element in Akpojotor’s strategy to challenge visual language and pay tribute to thelegacies of influential people in her life.
She explained, “In my artistic process, there’s no staged setup; instead, I seize moments of joy and weave textiles, acrylics, and other materials onto the canvas. I create collages that reflect layers of meaning and emotion woven into their fabric. I want my audience to delve deeper into the essence of human experience.”
She added, “My first solo exhibition in London represents a significant milestone in my artistic journey. It’s not just about showcasing my work, but also about sharing my story, culture, and vision as an artist.”
Known for her captivating exploration of femininity, cultural identity, and empowerment through her vibrant and layered collage artworks, Akpojotor held her first solo exhibition, ‘She Was Not Dreaming,’ at Rele Gallery, Lagos, in 2018. Her second solo show, ‘Daughters of Esan: The Alpha Generation,’ took place in 2021 at Rele Gallery in Los Angeles.
She has participated in group exhibitions in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the United States. She participated in “The Flower Show’ (2023), L.A. Louver Gallery, Los Angeles; ‘Project Genesis. Art and Human Rights,’ (2023)Triennale Milano, Milan, Italy. She has also been at prominent art fairs worldwide, including a solo booth at Art Basel Miami Beach (2021), Art Dubai (2020), LA Art Show (2020) and the FNB Art Joburg (2019).
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