Ca’ del Duca 3052, Corte del Duca Sforza
San Marco, 30124, Venezia, Italy
Tue – Sat 10am – 6pm
“I attempt to question the cartographic policy of Africa and the rest of the world in contemporary society.”- Alexandre Kyungu
AKKA Project Dubai is pleased to present Doors, Eyes and Tribal Marks, a group exhibition running from 19.03 to 31.05.2020.
The exhibition is the result of Kelechi Charles Nwaneri’s residency at AKKA Project Venezia.
United by a common will to examine the dynamics of the surrounding context, the selected artists for Doors, Eyes and Tribal Marks deepen the theme in different forms and mediums. Taking inspiration from the traditions and the current situation of the cities in which they live, the three artists elaborate a personal analysis which leads them to question the relation that exists between people in shared urban spaces.
Alexandre Kyungu (Democratic Republic of Congo, b. 1992) combines painting, drawing, sculpture and installation in his artistic practice. His work functions as a “cartographic essay”, in which he tries to build a new and global world while merging and juxtaposing the maps of different cities. Exploring the parallels between the urban mapping and the scarification of the body, he erases the boundaries between peoples and gives birth to a single territory in the imaginary space of his work. His favourite medium is the “door”, for him synonymous with openness, meeting and discovery in an increasingly universal society.
Rodrigo Mabunda (Mozambique, b. 1985) is fascinated with intricate details and intertwining dynamic elements that compose his works, which stems from his childhood passion for traditional Mozambican board games, especially Ntxuva and the surrounding context. Today he is inspired by places, swarming with different people, distinct smells and loud sounds, such as markets and traditional ceremonies. The distinctive quality in his drawings is the eyes that Rodrigo sees as the entry point (a door) to each person, a distinguishable characteristic that is unique to everyone and stands out in the totality. His works have a somewhat mystical quality to them and transfer the feeling of interconnectedness. The carton box is his preferred tool for expression as they are constantly in a type of dialogue, since the box endows the artwork with initial structure, guiding the artist’s movements.
Kelechi Charles Nwaneri (Nigeria, b. 1994) works deal with issues of our present time, using multimedia and the conceptual feel in his work. A major characteristic of his work is the use of West-African Iconography, allegorical concepts and the Black Hybrid Figure {inspired by the idea of Scars and African Tribal Marks} which he uses as a door to another dimension full of meanings. His work is born out of the desire to stir up conversations on issues around Social values, History, mental Health and the subconscious interaction between man and his environment. His figures are usually embedded with symbols, lines and patterns created using primarily pencils and charcoal sticks.