Efie Gallery presents The Shape of Things to Come, curated by Japan-based American curator Dexter Wimberly. The exhibition brings together painting and sculpture by leading contemporary artists, including El Anatsui, Iman Issa, Abdoulaye Konaté and Yinka Shonibare, all recognised for their conceptually rigorous and innovative practices.
Wimberly comments: “At the heart of this exhibition lies the belief that art can reflect the complexities of a rapidly changing
world. These artists push the boundaries of their mediums, using bold colour, unexpected textures and unconventional materials to capture the transformations shaping contemporary society. Their work is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of art in turbulent times.”
Internationally revered artist El Anatsui is renowned for his intricate metal sculptures and transformative use of simple materials such as liquor bottle caps, printing plates, and cassava graters. He brings a unique perspective on sustainability and cultural heritage through works that weave together themes of history, identity and environmental consciousness, offering viewers a tactile and visually compelling experience.
Iman Issa is known for her politically engaged conceptual sculpture. In her ongoing series Heritage Studies, she reimagines historical artifacts as geometrically abstract, minimal forms accompanied by interpretive texts. The title refers to the interdisciplinary field concerned with the understanding and use of history. Issa employs conventional museological tools such as vitrines, plinths, captions, labels and vinyl text to construct displays for objects and narratives that exist beyond a specific time or place.
The series explores the relationship between history, memory, language and objects, questioning how artifacts resonate with and are repurposed in the present. Abdoulaye Konaté is acclaimed for his large-scale textile-based installations using woven and dyed clothes, materials native to his homeland Mali. Konaté’s abstract and figurative tableaux explore both aesthetic language and diverse socio-political and environmental issues. Referring to the West- African tradition of using textiles as a means of communication, the artist balances the global issues with an intimate reference to his own life and country, conveying stories of struggle and triumph.
Yinka Shonibare is well known for his exploration of colonialism and post-colonialism within the context of globalisation. Working in painting, sculpture, photography, film and installation, Shonibare’s work examines race, class, and the construction of cultural identity through a sharp political commentary on the tangled interrelationship between Africa and Europe and their respective economic and political histories. Shonibare uses wry citations of Western art history and literature to question the validity of contemporary cultural and national identities.
The Shape of Things to Come presents a dialogue between artists responding to the shifting realities of modern life including political upheaval, technological change, cultural exchange and environmental crisis. Their works offer sharp reflections on the global moment, reinforcing art’s role as a tool for insight and change. It celebrates the mastery of its featured artists while reaffirming art’s enduring relevance in shaping the cultural narratives of our time.
Press release from Efie Gallery
Image: Yinka Shonibare CBE. Hybrid Mask (Bamana Ntomo). 2023. 71.6 x 23.1 x 27 cm. wood, acrylic paint and brass. image courtesy the artist and James Cohan Gallery, New York, photo by Stephen White & Co
