Christopher Moller Gallery is proud to present Harmattan has Come, a new body of work by Azuka Muoh, an artist who offers insight into her world and the very real global challenges facing her generation. Her striking pieces are of great interest to the gallery not only as a showcase of her prowess but for her viewpoint on the shift in 21st century Nigerian cultural and gender norms.
The winds of change are afoot in Nigeria and beyond its borders, of that Azuka Muoh is certain. Come the end of November the dry, dusty and windy Harmattan season descends on Nigeria and the rest of West Africa and with it a slew of customs that are ingrained in many Nigerians' lives. However, as climate change, urbanisation and a move away from tradition continues, many Gen Z and Millennial Nigerians no longer participate in these time-honoured rituals. Contemporary talent Azuka Muoh has a reputation for delving deep into the issues that many women of her generation face. She examines the phenomenon of loss of culture as it sits alongside deep-set societal conditioning and the discomfort that straddling two worlds brings. As a result her work emits a distinct tension as she faces up to and casts open conversations that may be difficult to have.
The advent of the Harmattan season, and its associated customs have been part of many a Nigerian's life for generations. The cooler (and windy) season arrives in November, a time when Western-oriented knitted jerseys become social talking points since the Harmattan season is a rare opportunity to show off these fetching garments. Dry, chapped lips and skin plus asthma are daily irritants and the ever-present layer of dust in the home, a constant annoyance. But with global warming and the shift in the dusty wind's arrivals and the younger generations snubbing of many traditions like church and Christmas clothes, Muoh brings some important conversations around shifting cultural and climatic norms.
'Sometimes I feel like I am alone in these feelings and I want to start a conversation around them – for me, my art is a powerful way to find a common and relatable ground', she says. Muoh's deep wisdom belies her age – at just 22, the graphic designer-turned-full-time artist is prepared to have hard-hitting conversations with both her peers and those older than her. Muoh's process begins on the tablet where she does much of her planning, from there she transforms her pieces into the printed form, adding layers and meaning with acrylics and oils. She delves into her subject matter with a deep appreciation for symbols and a marriage of surreal imagery applied to the everyday modern urban scenes she is surrounded by. A trained graphic designer, she loves colour and this shows in her bold and richly hued artworks –the kinds of pieces that command conversation but which are also supremely approachable. Muoh is also deeply absorbed in the shifting sands of Nigerian, patriarchal society and this body, like her others continues with the use of surrealist motifs to reflect this. Gender issues are a pain point for Muoh, 'I love my culture but there are flaws with gender norms and expectations, and I find using my art a positive way to bring about conversation'.
As with many artists who are showcased at the gallery, Azuka Muoh examines the dichotomy of African identity, someone who acknowledges that time honoured traditions, history and ritual are worthy of preservation, yet progress and challenging of norms is inevitable and indeed deeply uncomfortable.
Open 24 November 2022–31 March 2023.
Visit the Gallery or explore online.
• In-Person viewing at the Gallery: 24 November 2022–20 January 2023.
• Online viewing: 24 November 2022–31 March 2023.
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