The Artist Isn't Present-Ayo Akinwande at Many Studios.
Diversity Art Forum is pleased to support his first United Kingdom solo exhibition of Ayo Akínwándé with The Gallow Gate based at Many Studios in Glasgow.
This work stems from Akínwándé's background in architecture, incorporating design processes in the spatial sectioning of these ideas to evoke both intimacy and the monumental. Using materials found on construction site such as corrugated zinc sheets, wood, and stone, the artist mimics the restriction areas on construction sites to signify the invisibility of the artists' process to their audience.
In amongst the rubble, the artist presents new video work based on his ongoing research into markets. The video explores ways of marking time across cultures, using the market system of the Igbos - in present day South-East Nigeria - as a starting point. The Gallow Gate is located in an original Barras Market building, and our geography and relationship to the largest outdoor market in Glasgow became a point of interest to the artist. As part of this research, Akínwándé travelled to various markets in the city of Enugu and Abakaliki, places where he had spend significant time a decade earlier as a graduate.
Akínwándé co-curated the 2017 Lagos Biennial and was also a participating artist at the exhibition held at the Nigerian Railway Museum. He was selected for the 2nd Changjiang International Photography and Video Biennial and was part of the "Chinafrika-under construction" exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Leipzig.
For infomation about the exhibition click on The Artist Isn't Present and for more information about Ayo Akínwándé click on Ayo Akínwándé.
