curated by Korea Art Forum Director Heng-Gil Han
Opening Reception: Thursday Sept. 5, 2019 6-9pm I By Appointment Only September 5- October 8
For appointments contact: (646) 886-2254 or ludovicnkoth@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2019, New York, NY — OZANEAUX ArtSpace is pleased to present ME WE, an exhibition featuring artworks by two emerging African immigrant artists, Alou Dia and Ludovic Nkoth, living and working in New York City. This exhibition seeks to bring together all people-- from the art world and beyond--to collectively explore what it means to be an African and an immigrant in this country, and what it truly means for America to be great. The opening reception will be held on Thursday, September 5 from 6 to 9 pm. Please join us in celebrating the opening of this meaningful exhibition.
Using techniques including collage, drawing, and squeegee painting, Alou Dia tells his personal, tense and hopeful experience of immigrating from Senegal to the United States. In his paintings, warm color palettes with thick and rich textures, geometric or floral patterns stemming from African fabric, and pictorial images of urban environments are seamlessly woven into a beautiful story. These stories depict happy, flashing memories of Dia’s hometown, where he spent his childhood, revelation of his African identity, and a new life here, in New York City. Dia’s canvas offers a moment of reflection on relevant issues, including the meaning of nation and border, interwoven and interrelated cultures, as well as self-care and respect for others.
Ludovic Nkoth explores the relationship between the body and urban spaces while investigating the impact of colonization on pre- and post-colonial Africa and the African diaspora. In wrestling with figuring out his identity as a person of color, he communicates tension by crafting and infusing rich textures and colors from both opaque and transparent layers. The artist states that ever since he was a pre-adolescent, he has been fascinated by the essential “unreality of the moment.” What starts out as vision soon manifests itself as a corruption of greed, producing only a sense of chaos in which a new process of understanding has to be undertaken. As momentary simulacra of reality become revealed through frantic and critical practice, the viewer obtains a new access to unique authenticity and lasting truth.
Alou Dia was born in Senegal, where he grew up with his older brothers. His childhood was the beginning of his fruitful engagement with the arts. In a place devoid of water and electricity, he and his friends relied on their imaginations. This scarce and unforgiving environment opened up his mind, and led to creation via deprivation. Once of age, he moved to Corsica, France to join his parents. He went on to study Art at École d’Art Appliqué of Lyon, École des Beaux-arts of Marseille, and University of Montréal. He took his education, experience and passion to New York City in 2011 to pursue a career as an Artist.
Ludovic Nkoth began his journey from Cameroon, Central Africa. The vibrant cities inspired him at an early age so much that he spent most of his time with filling sketchbooks and learning to express himself creatively. Through his vibrant use of color and ability to capture life through a distinct lens, Ludovic’s past time was consumed with rough sketches of the beautiful cities of Cameroon. At the age of 13, Ludovic moved to the US, bringing with him an artistically brilliant mind and a passion for art. Exploring his artistic abilities, Ludovic established a distinct style of brush strokes and use of color. His style consists of depicting energy and emotion through color choices; creating expressive art with a direct reference to Africa and the African diaspora. Ludovic’s pieces are bold and daring. Ludovic is currently based in New York City where he continues to develop his craft and his voice as an artist.
For more information please contact at ozaneauxartspace@gmail.com
OZANEAUX ArtSpace is a philanthropic, artist-run exhibition/project space created by Nikki Schiro and Frederic Ozaneaux in 2009. It hosts Contemporary Art exhibitions for Artists and Curators in the couple's community. The exhibitions highlight Artists from underrepresented demographics as well as foreign exchange. The gallery is planted in the back end of an accounting office, in the heart of New York City’s Gallery District. www.ozaneauxartspace.blogspot.com
This exhibition is curated by Heng-Gil Han, Director of Korea Art Forum (KAF), a non-profit organization founded in New York City in 2013 by artists, scholars and peacemakers committed to bridging the world through art. KAF strives to find an aesthetic domain that is conducive to create a peaceful world of coexistence and co-prosperity. KAF embraces experimental and under-recognized artistic practices, attending to the values of inclusion, fair representation and discussion in the field of contemporary art. http://kafny.org
