“Gathering at Dawn” is a group exhibition showcasing new and recent works in sculpture, collage, printmaking, and painting. These pieces explore the hope and possibilities that emerge with the first light of morning. The exhibition features artists from East and West Africa, highlighting their unique artistic perspectives at Mitochondria Gallery in Houston, Texas.
Ejiro Fenegal is a sculptor devoted to preserving stories of womanhood, drawing inspiration from shared community experiences and introspection. She casts her narratives in marble, using vibrant layers of patina stains to accentuate the features of her muses. The creation of her marble sculptures requires a profound understanding of alchemy, anatomy, time management, and extensive physical control, all of which Fenegal has embraced as a labor of love. She received her artistic education in sculptural work from Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Nigeria. This is her second group exhibition in Texas, and her previous showing received a very warm reception as she continues to ascend in the art world.
Fenegal sculpts with live muses, their presence in her studio over extended periods fosters camaraderie. This is reflected in the reverence depicted in her sculptures. For example, the piece titled “Omotolani” is named after a muse Fenegal has frequently portrayed. Their time together in her Lagos studio created a safe space for sharing ideas, past experiences, fellowship, and therapeutic conversations. The sculpture “Obonganwan” is part of an ongoing series where Fenegal portrays women of noble character who positively impact those around them. Through her work, Fenegal encourages women to be the best versions of themselves.
Tiemar Tegene uses experimental print making to document her experiences. Her creative process is highly intuitive, with narratives ranging from familial interactions to friendship and introspection. Tiemar honed her artistic style and storytelling skills at the Alle’ School of Fine Arts and Design in Addis Ababa, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art and design.
Working from her print making studio in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Tiemar uses a clear plastic sheet as the matrix for her transfer process. She utilizes household items like spoons, along with paintbrushes and etching tools, to create a matrix that cannot retain a permanent image. Tiemar’s work is primarily monochromatic, using black ink to express strength. For her, creating art is therapeutic—a way to express her emotions and communicate with the world.
Alex Peter Idoko’s extraordinary ability to control fire from a blowtorch, much like a painter wields a brush, is truly otherworldly. From his studio in Abuja, Nigeria, Idoko shares his dedication and passion through his art, offering the world glimpses of his creative process via video snippets. These videos reveal how he uses flames to sculpt shades of brown, creating portraits on canvas, paper, and wood.
Through pyrography, Idoko documents the human condition, telling stories of heritage, cultural preservation, and cultural metamorphosis. These themes are evident in works such as “Sovereign Stance” and “Ochefije’s Moment,” where he uses fire to create rich brown hues on his subjects’ skin. His muses, depicted in confident stances, are adorned with wax print fabric and hairstyles significant to communities in central Nigeria and across Africa. He carefully incorporates accessories that highlight the global exchange of cultures.
For the first time, Idoko presents collage in what he describes as “Pyro-fusion,” combining cutouts from his pyrography on canvas and paper. He also blends realism, seen in his subjects, with abstract elements in the backgrounds, using a paintbrush and acrylics to create warm, textured hues.
Kingsley Obasi is a Nigerian painter, whose works examine the beauty and ugliness of humanity through surrealism. The expressionist painter employs vibrant colors and bold brush strokes to create portraiture of subjects with distorted features, gazing back at the viewer. The subjects in his work are confrontational, they mirror the modern societal turbulence, and the multifaceted states of human emotions.
Unyime Edet is a Nigerian painter whose artistic practice is anchored by his interrogations of the hidden truth about life and its mysteries. Working primarily with oil paint, Unyime creates figuration in the style of contemporary realism. He earned a bachelor’s in fine art at the University of Uyo, Nigeria.
For “Gathering At Dawn,” he presents a body of work titled “Spirit to Spirit.” The central theme that connects the works presented is an attempt to study the connection or connectivity of humans and pets. Beyond beauty and coexistence, Unyime attempts to draw attention to a connection at a soul level between humans and our furry friends, independent of our physical differences.
“Creating art is a response to the calling in my soul, it’s more of yearning for the joy and peace of my soul while leading others to a deeper meaning to the mysteries of living and existence.” – Unyieme Edet.
“Gathering at Dawn” is on view through August 10th, 2024, at Mitochondria Gallery. This exhibition also features works by Izere Antoine (Kigali, Rwanda), Nedia Were (Nairobi, Kenya), and Ismael Kwizera (Kigali, Rwanda).
