The Paris Museum of Modern Art is showcasing the transformative work of Nigerian-born artist Otobong Nkanga in her first major monographic exhibition in Paris, titled "I Dreamed of You in Colors." Based in Antwerp, Belgium, Nkanga invites all earthly energies to deploy their redemptive power through an artistic body of work that is both protean and unclassifiable, drawing from dreamlike and intimate inspiration.
The exhibition features a mesmerizing landscape of diverse artistic elements that speak to climate change and regeneration. Among the standout pieces is "Unearthed Sunlight" from 2021, a massive 350 x 600 cm textile work that presents an incandescent landscape representing the final stage of a long journey. In this compelling piece, some plants have not survived climate warming, but other elements have endured, serving as signs of possible rebirth and renewal.
Visitors encounter a rich sensory experience as they move through the exhibition space. The installation includes a bed of black sand, molecular structures where minerals sparkle and gleam, a sculpture of tree roots pierced with needles, and paintings that resemble fragments of ancient earth. Organic-patterned carpets invite bodies to instinctively lie down, while colors seem to indicate the path forward. Poetic words are engraved directly onto ceramic plates, and globes emit a hypnotic female voice throughout the space.
Connecting all these elements are ropes that link the various components together, resembling lines of mysterious writing. This interconnectedness reflects Nkanga's central artistic philosophy and approach to creation. The artist, who originates from Nigeria but is now established in Antwerp, relentlessly probes the depths of the soil and excavates its different layers to reveal buried connections to the light of day.
Nkanga's work reveals the gaping wounds of territories and their inhabitants while highlighting the inextricable links that unite them and the regenerative capacities of living beings. As a weaver of connections and storyteller of ancient tales from the heart of the earth, she plants seeds of hope for a possible future by creating spaces filled with communicative redemptive power.
Despite the luminous nature of her creation, there exists a shadow side to her artistic vision. "My work consists of reflecting on how things are connected to each other, on our connections with our daily environment," Nkanga explains. Her multiform and radiant creation encompasses installations, drawings, photographs, tapestries, sculptures, ceramics, performances, poems, and vocal pieces, yet it contains its share of darkness.
Beneath the seductive appearances lies an ambivalent narrative with inextricable ramifications, where tension is palpable throughout the work. The artist elaborates on her creative philosophy, stating, "My work consists of reflecting on how things are connected to each other, on our connections with our daily environment, with our different histories, our multiple cultures."
This comprehensive exhibition demonstrates Nkanga's ability to address complex themes of environmental destruction, cultural identity, and human resilience through a diverse range of artistic mediums, establishing her as a significant voice in contemporary art addressing global environmental and social concerns.
