The Center of Fantasy brings together five artists whose work explores rich and varied elements of urban life, imagination and alternate realities. Drawing heavily from worlds of fantasy, mythology and age-old traditions, each painting, drawing and conceptual work examines how cartoon-like imagery and fantastical elements can be used to evoke ideas around spirituality, cultural heritage, and the evolving nature of urban landscapes.
Natnael Ashebir's "Layers of Life" series offers a thought-provoking commentary on the complexities of urbanisation and its impact on identity and community. His dynamic compositions and abstract forms, serve as allegories for the multifaceted nature of modern life as seen in The Story of the wind 03. Through his exploration of political hegemony, social structure, and displacement, Ashebir challenges viewers to confront the realities of urban existence while inspiring them to envision alternative futures rooted in creativity and resilience.
In a similar nature, Emmanuel Chidube’s work transcends the mundane by capturing moments of everyday life with a whimsical twist. His intricate watercolour compositions, specifically in his landscape scenes, evoke a sense of childlike wonder, inviting viewers to reimagine their surroundings through a lens of nostalgia. Chidube’s recent foray into expressionism adds another layer of depth, as distorted figures and surreal landscapes blur the line between reality and fantasy. Through several renderings of still life, he encourages viewers to embark on a journey of introspection and self-discovery.
Ganiu Ismail’s work is heavily influenced by his Islamic faith and Yoruba heritage. Through intricate patterns and elaborate details reminiscent of cartoons and comic books, Ismail creates a visual softness that celebrates the richness of cultural diversity within the urban context. In the Yearn Series, his playful exploration of spirituality, identity, and tradition serves as a testament to the power of imagination in bridging cultural divides and fostering a sense of unity amidst diversity.
Onakoya Afeez, meanwhile, draws on Greek mythology as a source of inspiration to his body of work. Channelling his creativity using charcoal and Acrylic, his figures appear against vividly coloured backgrounds as mysterious expressions of human life and the universal quest for identity. Onakoya's work is an exploration of the human spirit, a visual poetry that seeks to define the essence of existence. This is also similar in the work of Blossom Oyeyipo whose compositions also employ
imagination as a means of revelation. Her subjects – notably all women – are depicted almost exclusively in blues and are often in solitude and private moments of thought as seen in Red Night. The sombre emotion of the figures in relation to their surroundings creates a powerful sense of longing that contemplates the performance of identity as well as the expectations placed on women. Oyeyipo seeks to express and highlight the roles of women in society and the ways in which they can be empowered in an African context.
This idea of imagination runs throughout the exhibition. Highly original in style and approach, these are all works that contain and invite multiple perspectives, that broaden our sense of imagination and challenge our expectations of alternate realities and concepts.