Odinakachi Okoroafor: Ogadimma

Kutlesa Gallery is pleased to present Ogadimma, an exhibition of new paintings by the Nigerian artist Odinakachi Okoroafor, on view at the gallery's location. This will be his first solo exhibition in Europe.

In African culture, it is not uncommon for personal issues to become a societal concern because, as in many communal societies, individuals’ actions and decisions are held to high collective standards. Hence, one must develop a thick skin in order to survive and persevere in an atmosphere of acute awareness and critique. Reactions to this dynamic may be perceived as nonchalance, adamancy, or surrender. Here, these responses are depicted metaphorically through the singular, mundane act of sitting. Subsequently, through more subtle facial expressions and body positioning, the personal nuances of these reactions are discernible within the repeated action.

In Ogadimma which means “it shall be well” in Igbo language, Odinakachi explores human conditions of friendship, self-love, and empathy. His paintings consider society and the individual within solitary, intimate moments, drawing influence from the artist’s memories and personal experiences. Odinakachi uses printing techniques such as screen printing, linocut, and transfers, paired with the use of a paintbrush, to make imprints on the canvas. In doing so, Odinakachi strives to leave “imprints” of positivity through his works.

Image: Odinakachi Okoroafor, Bush Girls II, 2021 (detail). © Odinakachi Okoroafor