HAMID NII NORTEY

23 MARCH 2023 – 4 AUGUST 2023

‘WHAT WE DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE’

Solo Exhibition by Hamid Nii Nortey

As a gallery we are always drawn to collections that have multiple storylines – we love figurative renderings that delve into socio landscapes and as our clients and collectors know, we are specialists in sharing our love of the ever-evolving narrative of what it is to an African in the 21^st century. Our relationship with Hamid Nii Nortey began a few years ago when he was beginning to spread his wings in the international market; back then we emphasised our own commitment to a long-term relationship with him as he developed as an artist, and to see how he has consolidated is testament to his tenacity and the messaging he conveys so articulately.

Something we have always been struck by with Nortey’s deeply saturate and intensely thoughtful works, is his ability to capture the zeitgeist of the world he observes. In this collection, What we Do Makes a Difference, we see his subjects redolent in youthful optimism, submerged in brilliantly coloured intense and dare we say it, even ‘boujee’ social scenes. It is impossible to escape the colour of youth in Nortey’s painterly snapshots. We feel a profound sense of positivity in Nortey’s works too and conversely we appreciate the global relevance of his messaging and observations, especially around trickier topics like global warming and even government corruption that like many of his generation, is a constant cause for debate and concern.

Nortey is a millennial on a mission and the scenes he paints and lets us into are increasingly universal. We see a fashion-forward couple enjoying Champagne at a tailgate picnic in a shiny Range Rover, a young couple in love lounging on the sofa, Playstation and chess on pause for now. He purposefully explores the notions of friendships, relationships, the power of community and the profoundness of connection – and the intensity and emotion around his observations is revealed with dialed up colouration, where brights are brighter and patterning that much more intense. There is a curated Instagram feed element around his perfectly posed and captured moments too, and we find it delightfully compelling.

We see Nortey as an artist who is instrumental in breaking African stereotypes. Outdated perspectives are cast aside – the scenes he portrays are glossy and aspirational, he wants people to know what his world actually looks like and what issues are of interest to other young Ghanaians. For us, Nortey’s delving into scenarios that issues of identity, platonic and romantic relationships, social scenarios and even absurdities rips off the plaster – it’s a collection that is indicative of the change in attitude of his generation compared to more traditional expectations and certainly reveals what is most important to them.

Visit the Gallery or explore online.

• In-Person viewing at the Gallery: 23 March 2023–28 April 2023.

• Online viewing: 23 March 2023 – 4 August 2023.