Galerie Chauvy presents the exhibition ‘Coming and Going, the Humans Season’ with the artists Soly Cissé, Wole Lagunju, and Adewumi Oyeyemi, as part of the event “Traversées Africaines”, on display until June 15.

‘Coming and Going, the Humans Season’ highlights the realities of rural communities in Nigeria’s Ekiti highlands. Adewumi depicts daily life during the pre-election period, while Lagunju explores the biblical parable of “If the blind lead the blind”. Cissé’s collages reflect societal violence amidst change. The artists address contemporary issues like global warming, pollution, corruption, and political apathy.

Soly Cissé, an influential artist, creates unique and multifaceted work through experimentation and curiosity. His allegorical compositions connect to history and society, inviting viewers into rich, narrated, large formats with symbolic backgrounds. Experimental spaces feature allegorical animals and powerful figures.

Wole Lagunju’s art is linked to Onaism, a movement reinventing traditional Yoruba art. His large compositions feature floral motifs from Yoruba textiles. He explores globalization, cultural hybridization, representations of power, and colonial oppression. Lagunju portrays contemporary figures wearing Yoruba masks, connecting them to mythical episodes of Yoruba culture.

Adewumi Oyeyemi’s work explores the socio-cultural aspects of his native Yorubaland in Nigeria. He draws from ancient and direct Yoruba culture, addressing historical movements, colonial history, emancipation struggles, globalization, and environmental crises. His compositions depict figures resisting oppression and longing for a simpler life. Adewumi uses charcoal and delicate canvases to create a spiritual and reflective atmosphere.

The gallery, based in Paris, has been representing international artistic currents since the post-war period. Since 2016, it has focused on a new generation of artists who explore socio-cultural realities across different regions, engaging in a dialogue between eras, cultures, arts, and media.

Source: Galerie Chauvy.