Chidi Kwubiri- motionEmotion: Accra, Gallery I

motionEmotion is the culmination of a lifelong dream of Chidi Kwubiri’s, in which he speaks to the power of music on the creative soul. The exhibition of at least 15 spectacular large canvases and two conceptual installations reflect the spirit dance of celebration, joy, melancholy, energy, hope, and protest that music evokes in people wherever they gather.

In motionEmotion, Chidi Kwubiri takes us on a journey across sound, rhythm, performance and dance, by presenting paintings which speak to the outer and inner manifestation of music on identity, the rise of freedom movements, and the impact of lyrics on society across different generations.

The works introduce a multi-layered, almost opaque world of colour and silhouette that gently seeps into visual consciousness. Utilising his characteristic dripping paint technique on large canvases, Chidi Kwubiri reveals expertly rendered hazy outlines of figures in motion and dance, in a sea of minute dots and drips.

Chidi Kwubiri presents a new monochromatic body of work with minimalist colour highlights alongside his signature colour palette, which reinforce the power of unity and hope against the socio-political tensions surrounding global immigration issues. His bold interpretations also touch on the impact of music on global youth movements by interpreting cross-generational rhythms, culture and political consciousness. The exhibition at Gallery 1957 shows the artist on a journey of sensory memory through paintings of cultural crusaders - such as afrobeat legend Fela Kuti and reggae prophet Bob

Marley - juxtaposed against contemporary dances with their roots in Africa, including twerking, popping & locking, hip hop, and rap. motionEmotion is set against a backdrop of live music, freestyle instrumental and art based performance.

The exhibition follows a two-week artist residency in Ghana with Gallery 1957.