Autumn is Fresh
Christopher Moller Gallery is proud to be presenting some of Africa's most significant artists and their equally compelling discourses in a new show, Autumn is Fresh. The power for art to provoke conversations and new insights is a timeless notion and on the African continent it is indeed visceral and demands attention from international audiences and commentators. This unique opportunity, showcasing some of the most exciting and formidable artists in the contemporary art world, is a must for art collectors and appreciators alike. We are privileged to be playing a role in curating what we think is a significant round table of thought leaders and visionaries whose work bears undeniably significant weight.
This show is a collective of diverse styles and visual languages and includes some of our newer acquisitions, some gallery stalwarts and an exciting showcase of one of the continent's most respected and collected contemporary giants. Visitors will be able to view selected works of six artists, each whom we believe is an exceptional talent.
Tafadzwa Adolf Tega
Darling of the recent Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Zimbabwean-born Tafadzwa has garnered critical acclaim for his larger-than-life pieces that elevate his subjects to iconic even billboard-like status. Tafadzwa descends from a long line of artists and has struck a chord with collectors for his commentary on and insights into the diaspora experience and socio-political displacement of many African people like himself. In a world where refugee politics is so relevant, his art strikes a deep and relevant chord.
Professor Ablade Glover
Having an opportunity to exhibit Ghanaian educator and seminal artist Glover is a pivotal moment for any contemporary art specialist and it is our privilege to present this figurehead to our guests. While Glover does not see his highly collectable and thought-provoking abstracts as political in nature, their socio-political ramifications are inevitable and the African context in his intensely textured and patterned pieces equally compelling.
David Olatoye
Nigerian based contemporary talent David Olatoye creates hyper stylized portraits with a digitised and ultra-modern edge in his chosen media of acrylic and pen. Olatoye's star has risen sharply since he launched his career in Lagos in 2015. His portraits that reflect seemingly blissful domestic scenes are a somewhat playful parody of historical court portraiture in a 21st century context.
Michael Gah
Accra-born Gah creates his larger-than-life and hyper coloured figurative works using collaged strips of traditional textiles that are at the very heart of the concept of womanhood in Africa. His deeply arresting pieces confront both the art world's norms as well as social norms in the African feminine context.
Azuka Muoh
Nigerian-born and based Muoh takes her role as an observer and commentator on complex societal challenges in Africa seriously – especially those that impact women through systemic patriarchy and gender-based abuse. Muoh's digitally rendered multiple composition portraits are surrealist in nature and have proven powerful talking points at recent shows. Her youth belies a profound wisdom that emanates from her work.
Jean Baptiste Djéka
Côte d'Ivoire painter and sculptor Jean-Baptiste Djéka Kouadio's work is immensely complex thanks to a combination of techniques and visual cues, from brushwork to scarification, bemasked figures, and a selection of materials including acrylic resin, oil, natural pigment and collage. Deeply influenced by West African Akan culture, he relies on the African esoteric inheritance, ancestors, symbols, and masks to express himself.
While the concept of group shows and challenging narratives is not a new one, we feel that like the seasons, there is a sense of inevitability and necessity that has arisen around much of the subject matter. Autumn is Fresh signifies our gallery's keen interest in and commitment to encouraging debate and understanding within diverse socio-political contexts through the lenses of our artists.
Press release courtesy Christopher Moller Gallery.
7 Kloofnek Rd
Cape Town
South Africa
christophermollerart.co.za
+27(0) 21 422 1599
Tuesday – Friday • 10h00 – 16h00
Monday & Saturday • Viewings by appointment
Sunday • Closed