Efie Gallery, the Dubai-based contemporary art gallery specialising in artists of African origin, announces its representation of Slawn, the Nigerian London-based artist whose work lies between street art and abstract expressionism while exploring politics, race and identity. Efie Gallery’s first collaboration with Slawn will be a solo exhibition, titled ‘On A Darker Note’, of 12 new paintings taking place Sunday 2 – Wednesday 5 October 2022 at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce in London, with the support of guest writer Faridah Folawiyo.
Slawn responds to the blackface minstrel caricatures produced during the era of the Jim Crow laws of racial segregation in the US in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Combining spray paint, acrylic and oil stick, the works exaggerate the subjects’ facial features in a similar fashion to the racist cartoons that were used to mock the Black population in America. In Self Portrait (2022), seen above, the artist depicts himself staring out in angst with the background smeared in rough, chaotic marks; the white stars placed across the face are a reference to Boris Gardiner’s soundtrack for the 1974 film Every N**ger Is a Star.
The exhibition follows the sale of Slawn’s work Bobo n Jarrad Go To Church (2022) in the Sotheby’s Contemporary Curated auction in London, 7 – 13 September, co-curated by the British-Nigerian grime MC, rapper and producer Skepta. The auction also featured a work by Skepta, Mama Goes to Market (2021), ‘tagged’ by Slawn; Slawn also created a site-specific mural on view in Sotheby’s galleries during the Contemporary Curated exhibition.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Slawn now lives and works in London, UK. The self-proclaimed ‘scam artist’ uses cartoon-like pop figures, bold forms, stylish shapes and vivid colours to create works that are playful on the surface but explores complex, challenging subjects. After co-founding the popular Nigerian streetwear brand Motherlan in 2016 with fellow skaters and friends Onyedi and Leo, the artist uncovered his talent and passion for painting during the first lockdown in 2020. With his vibrant personality and creative spirit, Slawn has quickly amassed a cult following of collectors, creatives and institutions, including the likes of Kanye West, Frank Ocean, Louis Vuitton, Michèle Lamy, Skepta, Angelo Baque, Tremaine Emory, Iris Law, A$AP Rocky, and the late Virgil Abloh.
Since its inception in 2021 and the opening of its permanent space in 2022, the Dubai-based Efie Gallery has been establishing itself as a global platform working with some of Africa’s most significant artists, including El Anatsui, Isshaq Ismail and Yaw Owusu. Dedicated to the representation and advancement of both established and emerging artists from Africa and the diaspora, Efie Gallery has a particular focus on contemporary West African art practice and supports the cross-cultural exchange of artist work across the Middle East and beyond. In addition to its roster of wide-ranging artists and exhibitions, Efie Gallery operates a dynamic residency programme that focuses on artist promotion, protection and preservation.
Kwame Mintah, co-founder of Efie Gallery, says: “Slawn’s rapid rise on the art market shows no sign of slowing down. From working at the coveted skate shop Wafflesncream in Lagos to collaborating with the late Virgil Abloh, creating work for Louis Vuitton and going under the hammer at one of the world’s most important auction houses, this energetic young artist tells compelling stories that cut across boundaries and cultures. As we continue to build our portfolio of some of the most striking contemporary artists, Slawn is a tremendous addition to Efie Gallery and we are excited to see what barriers he will break down next.”
Of his work, Slawn says: “The subjects of my paintings usually come from whatever I am feeling in the moment, but they also explore the politics of our world – some are based on very old racist cartoons. The first time you look at the work, you just see the character, but then if you look deeper, you see the blood and the violence. I just want to be an icebreaker for people through my art; after viewing my work, people begin to understand the topics I am painting about, and that’s all I want.”
For more information, please visit: www.efiegallery.com
