Fragments of Reality

Retro Africa is pleased to announce a collaborative exhibition by Nigerian artist Ken Nwadiogbu presented by Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery. Fragments of Reality will open on Saturday 7 October and features 12 new paintings and an installation by the artist and is co-curated by Retro Africa Founder, Dolly Kola-Balogun.

London-based Ken Nwadiogbu will invite audiences to dive into his personal experience an artist and a migrant in a foreign country. Migrating from Nigeria to London has played a pivotal role in shaping Nwadiogbu’s creative process which explores abstract expression and uses a vibrant primary colour palette of red, blue, green and yellow. For Nwadiogbu, the colours he employs evoke a profound sense of nostalgia, reminding him of home and the emotions associated with it whilst drawing inspiration from thermographic cameras, which detect heat energy through infrared radiation.

 Fragments of Reality is a visual exploration of images captured by the artist in London which align with the experiences and challenges faced by black immigrants in the UK. Sometimes staged, sometimes serendipitous the composition of each canvas is created through skilful inclusion and omission, orchestrating a visual narrative that unravels the essence of what is crucial within the image.

Exploring what holds value, Nwadiogbu is simultaneously commenting the choices we make about where we want to go in life and whom we want to experience it with. This exploration delves into how history is preserved and documented, while examining the individuals who author and shape the information we consume today.

Reflecting on the project, Ken Nwadiogbu states, "With my art, I strive to capture the deep interconnections between personal encounters, broader social issues, and the pervasive energy that accompanies them. It is through this exploration that I aim to stimulate thought, provoke introspection, and foster meaningful connections with viewers.”

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