John Madu Holds Identitytones Exhibition
PIONEER online art gallery, Artyrama, is set to show John Madu’s Identity Tones at its Popup Gallery on Alhaji Masha Street, Off Ademola Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. The show begins with a onehour fireside chat with the artist followed by a series of viewings from August 17 through 24, 2018.
Madu is a multi-disciplinary artist whose work is represented through personal iconographic symbols such as, metaphors, texture, indigenous patterns and colours. The philosophy behind his works rests on the premise that true art is based on a chain reaction to socio-economic issues and the immediate environment.
In Identitytones, Madu contemplates the effect of globalisation on African identity using collages, portraiture, figurative symbolism and mixed media to give it life. The eclectic mix of source materials is influenced by pop culture, African art history, music, and lived experiences. While speaking on the collection, Madu stated, “this work reflects the time that we live in. The spread of popular culture via social media has created an increase in cross-cultural contacts, which is a good thing, but original cultural practices can be lost in the process. Identitytones captures how I interpret this new state of consciousness in this work.”
Madu has had two solos and participated in group shows across the country. Guests will have an hour with him on August 17 between 4pm and 5pm, while VIP and press preview holds from 5pm to 9pm same day. while the main exhibition continues August 24. Bombay Sapphire supports the show.
Artyrama is an online platform that makes it easy for everybodyto procure art. Its core objective is to provide a platform for emerging African artists to showcase their works as well as widen the access to contemporary African art globally. This is done through regular online auctions and exhibitions as well as showcasing the best artists selected by a team of curators.