The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair kicks off this Thursday (10th) in London. Portas Vilaseca is taking part in another edition, this time presenting a direct dialogue between the works of three women artists from different languages and generations. In a convergence of distinct artistic practices, Kika Carvalho, Nádia Taquary, and Silvana Mendes weave intricate narratives of identity, heritage, and resilience in the context of the African diaspora in the Americas.
Nádia Taquary channels the rich cultural currents of pre-colonial Africa, invoking the “protagonism of the black feminine” as a guiding principle in her creative expression. Her sculptures and installations serve as conduits of ancestral wisdom, imbued with the vibrant hues and symbolic motifs of African cosmologies. At the heart of her Oríkì series lies a profound homage to Yoruba culture, where sculptural hairstyles transcend mere adornment to become embodiments of ancestral reverence and contemporary empowerment ( Ori means “head” and ki means “praise”). Through her Dinkas Orixas series and the evocative Yabás sculptures, Taquary masterfully captures the essence of sacred traditions and warrior spirits, bridging the gap between past and present, tradition and innovation.
On the other hand, Silvana Mendes’ artistic journey delves into the nuanced complexities of identity and historical revisionism. She navigates the turbulent currents of Brazilian history with her “afetocolagens” – “affectionate” collages that excavate forgotten narratives and challenge dominant representations of blackness. Through her intuitive erasure of backgrounds and subtle interventions, Mendes breathes new life into archival photographs, transforming them into a body of collective memory and speculative storytelling. By inviting viewers to engage with these reconstructed narratives, Mendes catalyses conversations around historical reparation and social transformation, infusing her work with a palpable sense of affection and communal resonance.
Finally, Kika Carvalho carves her own path in the history of painting with a distinctive style and a striking palette of colors. Her intimate poetics are intertwined with questions about the construction of individual identity based on culture, as well as the processes of identifying what it means to be a Black person in contemporary times. In her series of large scale oil paintings “12 Novembers”, Carvalho showcases children and young people wearing hairstyles that evoke African heritage, symbolizing a culture that is organically transmitted and preserved. The artist explores the journey of coming of age and the vital need to reconnect with one’s roots.
Together, Taquary, Carvalho and Mendes traverse the intricate landscapes of ancestry and belonging, offering poignant reflections on the enduring legacies of the African diaspora. Their respective bodies of work serve as catalysts for dialogue and introspection, inviting viewers to reimagine the contours of history and identity in a world shaped by resilience, creative transformation, and the enduring power of ancestry.
[ PREVIEW ]
KIKA CARVALHO
NÁDIA TAQUARY
SILVANA MENDES
Info
Portas Vilaseca Galeria at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London
Stand: S2 – South Wing
Period: 10 – 13 October 2024
Where: Somerset House, London, UK
More information: https://www.1-54.com/london/
Support:
ABACT | Associação Brasileira de Arte Contemporânea
LATITUDE | Platform for Brazilian Art Galleries
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Pictures Gallery
by Jim Winslet
