Art in the Diaspora

An Exploration of Interconnectedness with “The Geography of Feelings” by Tiffanie Delune at Gallery 1957, London

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Delune’s creative inspiration for The Geography of Feelings exhibited at the Gallery 1957 draws deeply from the drawings and photographs (which she captured during her travels in the Democratic Republic of Congo) of medicinal plants and trees. Her experimental approach blends these natural forms with imaginative, utopian landscapes that transcend the physical realm. In this collection, she marvelously mingles her fascination with spirituality, geometry, anatomy, animism, and astrology, crafting spiritual maps on canvas and expansive dreamscapes on linen.

Running from the 3rd of October till the 21st of November, 2024, Tiffanie Delune’s exhibition The Geography of Feelings at Gallery 1957 London explores utopian landscapes through vibrant colors, shapes, and textures that reflect her multicultural heritage and penchant for experimentation. As a French-Belgo-Congolese artist, Delune has drawn inspiration from her global journey and Congolese roots, infusing her works with layers of personal and ancestral symbolism. The exhibit, her first solo presentation at the gallery, introduces a new body of work where Delune’s instinctive approach to color and abstract shapes becomes a visual language that links natural forms and spiritual contemplation – another mark for interconnectedness.

How Strong is Your Spine? (2024)” by Tiffanie Delune
Image Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957

In The Geography of Feelings, Delune employs materials such as acrylics, oil pastels, spray paint, glitter, and thread to create tactile surfaces that invite interaction. Her artistic process is deeply intuitive, using color as a primary language to navigate the spectrum of human emotions and feelings. Each piece is a conversation of interconnectedness, enhanced by natural and spiritual symbolism. By blending organic shapes and bright, fluid colors, Delune evokes the sense of interconnectedness between the self, nature, and the metaphysical. This sensory layering adds depth, turning each piece into an emotional landscape that reflects the subtle, sometimes unspoken, contours of the human psyche. 

The Geography of Feelings delivers a multisensory journey, enriched by an original soundscape crafted in collaboration with composer Guilhem Tamisier (Bazartropicando). The soundscape consists of two 19-minute compositions, inviting audiences into a world infused with fragments and voices from Delune’s travels. Each track becomes a musical narrative, weaving together sonic expressions that mirror the shapes, colors, and motions within her paintings. The music works in tandem with the artwork, creating a rhythm that draws viewers into a meditative state, allowing them to engage more fully with the work’s emotional and sensory depths. This auditory element brings a spatial awareness that resonates with Delune’s central themes, bridging the material world with the spiritual—a harmony between art and nature.

‘Nowhere I Cannot Roam? (2024)” by Tiffanie Delune Image Courtesy of the Artist and Gallery 1957.

The Geography of Feelings moves beyond mere visual representation to form an immersive environment. Her pieces not only reveal the complexity of identity and feeling but also invite viewers to contemplate their emotional landscapes. Through this interplay of material and meaning, Delune redefines the traditional boundaries of art, using her work as a portal to explore the hidden geographies within us all. This exhibition underscores her mastery in creating spaces where art becomes a means of introspection, inviting us to find connections between ourselves and the natural, with the often unseen, spiritual worlds that shape our experiences.

Author

Gloria Adegboye is a creative writer and mindfulness coach. She has a law background and is the founder of Abike's Essence, a scented candle business based in Lagos, Nigeria. She is a writer for Art Network Africa.

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