Identity issues

She speaks - SolaSawyerr

I am at work, occasionally glancing at a sporty Sola as she hangs paintings up for her thesis show. It is easy to categorize Sola as a bright-eyed, pleasant acquaintance; essentially strong and  enthusiastic. Still in the process, she has already managed to lure passers-by into inquiring about her work. It fails to surprise me though. The striking black and white imagery is highly charged with universal emotion and direct appeal.

The show is an ode to Sola’s family as she explores interpersonal relationships immersed in the yearning that physical displacement creates. The unusually large format of these portraits, the archaic palette and the choice of technique evoke a sense of history that unfolds her untold story of multi-ethnicity .The process of art becomes a platform for Sola to reach out and to redefine the elusive family ties that are in fact so deeply embedded in her heart. She contemplates with poems that cradle the paintings and reveal to us a completely different facet of her personality.

At the opening reception Sola metamorphizes into a fashion statement, charming her way through the impressed audience. It is delightful to watch one of us cross over in style with a load of talent . No prizes for guessing that her parents are the proudest in the room. I was instantly smitten by a sense of nostalgia for the people I call home and the places that never cease to exist in the mind’s eye. Not to mention the countless sacrifices and  endless hours of work that are essential ingredients of a successful graduation show. What better occasion could I possibly ask for, to photograph Sola with her loved ones?

The Sawyerr family

Opening night

Another appealing series of multi-layered photographs by Justin Borsuk explore the American landscape. As a refreshing change, the artist deals with the identity of a place, rather than his own. Colour, texture, layers and composition team up to record a highly personal and unique moment. The layers not only enhance the image visually but bring to life the inherent emotional layers associated with the memories that each place evokes. The process creates a complex image loosely reminiscent of Picasso’s cubism; it is the portrait of a place from several different points of view, visually and metaphorically on the same picture plane.

Fox Theater - Justin Borsuk

Bowling ball - Kimberly Mowbray

Kimberley Mowbray’s haunting and arguably daunting photographs portray the artist’s introspective nature. Ironically she searches for answers to her inner turmoil in external spaces. Immersing herself in landscapes or man-made structures, she makes an attempt to come to terms with life and its challenges.
With the use of the traditional wet plate collodion process and a pinhole camera the artist intermittently transforms herself into a ghostly apparition. Some landscapes are not shy to absorb her existence while others let her emerge into a distinct being. These effects add greater significance and mystery to her work. It gives the viewer a sense of clear intent and yet leaves adequate room for interpretation.

It is interestingly coincidental that all the three artists at the 79 Gallery this month, share a sense of history and exploration of roots in their work. I take you on a tour of another AAU gallery next week. Are you ready?