In Deeds and Gestures｜Soimadou Ibrahim Solo Exhibition Introduction

WOAW Gallery is pleased to present Soimadou Ibrahim’s In Deeds and Gestures, the French artist's solo exhibition featuring 17 artworks that he created this year, at the gallery’s location on Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong. The exhibition will be on view from May 19 - June 18, 2023, which also celebrates the artist's first solo showing in Hong Kong.

In these new artworks, Ibrahim draws on various elements from his native Comoros and other parts of Africa. The ylang-ylang flower, for instance, is a recurring motif in his pieces, representing the beauty and richness of his home country. The blue-bellied roller, a bird commonly found in different parts of Africa, serves as a symbol of freedom and exploration. The birdwatcher is another important symbol in the exhibition, highlighting the importance of paying attention to the natural world around us and connecting with the environment. Throughout the exhibition, Ibrahim also depicts various characters and wildlife, celebrating the diversity and cultural richness of the African continent.

Soimadou Ibrahim, In Deeds and Gestures, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 72” x 39”

Using bold strokes and bright colors, In Deeds and Gestures is a visually striking exhibition that gently provokes the viewer to reflect on the importance of care and nurturing. Ibrahim's artwork encourages viewers to pay attention to the natural world around them, connecting with the environment and the communities they belong to. By depicting elements from his own cultural heritage, the artist also highlights the importance of preserving and celebrating diverse cultures. In Deeds and Gestures is a powerful reminder of the significance of self-care, community care, and environmental stewardship, a process that allowed the artist to reconnect and engage with his own roots.

“Not only do we rely on nature and the state of connectedness for our survival, but also as a means to flourish. The food we savour, the sanctuaries we build for ourselves, and the relationships we forge; all seeds that allow us to thrive,” the artist says.

Soimadou Ibrahim (b. 1989) is a French artist whose work explores family memories, postcoloniality, and humanity’s relationship with the natural environment. Ibrahim spent his childhood in Itsinkoudi, a remote village in the Comoros archipelago, where most of his family still lives. It was a formative experience that shaped his perspective on socioeconomics, community, and the complexities of race, and prompted his own interrogation of his own French identity. Ibrahim’s paintings are gestures towards the fleetingness and fragility of life, and a call for harmonious co-existence with our surroundings.

Soimadou Ibrahim, The Twitcher, 2022, Acrylic on canvas, 52” x 36”

Soimadou Ibrahim, Seat of Affections, 2023, Acrylic on canvas, 39” x 29”

Exhibition Details

• In Deeds and Gestures｜Soimadou Ibrahim Solo Exhibition
• Date: 19 May - 18 Jun 2023
• Venue: WOAW Gallery
• Address: G07, The Galleria, 9 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong

About Soimadou Ibrahim

Soimadou Ibrahim (French, b. 1989) explores and re-examines family memories by representing cherished moments of his life. Growing up in Comoros until 10 years old influenced his perspective on socio-economics, the strength of community and the complexities of race.

Throughout his adolescent life Ibrahim lived in a small town in Brittany so it is not only his personal experiences but also those of the African diaspora that provide him with a narrative to share and explore how to navigate the environment in which you find yourself.

His artworks are adapted from archival photographs, pictures taken by the artist himself, memories, and imagination. They each portray the importance of relationships, of life itself and the beauty of nature, illustrated by straight lines, bold gestural strokes and bright colours inspired by his studies in graphicdesign and art. They also reaffirm the persistence and timelessness of memories, encouraging each of us to preserve our own.

Source of above information: PR