Hamed Maiye | Joseph Ijoyemi | Mofoluso Eludire | Nana Danso Awuah-Asante | Nduka Ikechukwu
10 AUGUST 2024 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2024
Affinity Gallery is pleased to announce the opening of the group exhibition, Communal Bond, which brings together the works of five contemporary artists: Hamed Maiye, Joseph Ijoyemi, Mofoluso Eludire, Nana Danso Awuah-Asante, and Nduka Ikechukwu. The selected works are united by their profound narrative depth and their ability to communicate complex, often unspoken, truths about human connection and cultural identity. Each artist in the exhibition brings a unique perspective and approach to their medium, that, when viewed together, creates a compelling tapestry of interconnected stories. At the heart of Communal Bond lies a profound contemplation of the interwoven narratives that define our collective human experience, and the deeper connections that bind us across cultural and existential boundaries.
Hamed Maiye (b. 1991) is an interdisciplinary artist based in London. He received his BA (Hons) in Architecture from Canterbury School of Architecture (UCA). Maiye’s work engages with themes of cultural anthropology, mythology, and Yoruba philosophy. His works challenge viewers to explore allegorical scenarios that invoke deep introspection and emotional reflection. Recent group exhibitions include; Stretching the Light, Rele Gallery, London 2024, Following the body, Fragment Gallery, New York, 2023, Harlesden High Street, Frieze London
2023, Libations for Those in Limbo, Cambridge University, 2023. Solo exhibition; Fertility of the Shadow, Harlesden High Street 2022. Maiye has been Artist in residence at PM/AM, Sarabande foundation, Art’otel, and Good eye projects.
Joseph Ijoyemi,(b. 1987) is a Nigerian-Swedish artist based in London, where he graduated with a MFA in Fine Art from Central St Martins. Ijoyemi’s practice is defined by narrative- driven artworks that blend figurative and abstract elements, with his work serving as a platform for dialogue on themes such as restitution, cultural heritage, and identity. By employing diverse mediums and techniques, Ijoyemi invites viewers to engage intellectually and emotionally, whilst challenging societal norms and highlighting the resilience within African diaspora communities. Awards include; the Helen Scott Lidgett Award and a nomination for the Evening Standard Prize 2023. Group exhibitions include; Bloomberg New Contemporaries, London, 2023, Our Connection to Water at the National Maritime Museum, London, 2023, The New Contemporaries, Camden Art Centre, London 2023.
Image courtesy of Affinity Gallery
Mofoluso Eludire (b. 1997) is a London-based artist working in acrylic painting that explores identity, gender, and social justice. Eludire graduated with a BA in Fine and Applied Arts, majoring in painting, from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, in 2018. Her work focuses on the human experience and the journey towards self-acceptance, often sparking dialogues on societal and cultural impacts on individuals, especially women. Mofoluso has participated in notable exhibitions including Bloom and Beyond, Menage in Bloom, Bloom Art Gallery, Lagos in
2023, and Art X Lagos in 2022.
Nana Danso Awuah-Asante (b. 1996) graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Sociology from the University of Ghana, Legon, in 2018. Awuah-Asante’s work employs a unique painting language of loose strokes and elementary shapes in order to explore universal and existential themes. Through his painting, Awuah-Asante addresses a broad spectrum of philosophies, and considers the complex imaginations of the human psyche and the varied perceptions of the world. Solo exhibitions include; From Soul to Humanity at La Art Foundation for the Arts in Accra, 2024, The History of Ghana, Gallery 1957, Accra, 2021. Group exhibitions and residencies include; A divination of enjoyment: extended play, The Mix, Accra, 2023, and as an artist in residence at Gallery 1957 in Accra in 2021.
Nduka Ikechukwu, (b.1997) in Anambra State, Nigeria, earned his BA in Fine and Applied Arts from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Ikechukwu’s work primarily investigates the functions of materials and their relationship to the Igbo culture’s apprenticeship system and societal titles. One of his established series, “Nkata,” uses the metaphor of a basket to explore the conceptual functions of strap belts, emphasising strength and unity in Igbo society. This series reflects the Igbo ideology of “Igwebuike,” which means strength in multitude, and relates these concepts to the broader human community’s need for unity and cooperation. Group exhibitions include; Ntachi obi, the Institute of African Studies Museum, UNN, 2024, New Directions, Kó Artspace, 2024, and Place of Repose at Mitochondria Gallery, Houston, USA, 2023.
