Kesewa Aboah:
There is Life in this Nakedness
12.26 is pleased to present There is Life in this Nakedness, an exhibition of new work by UK-based artist Kesewa Aboah on view at the gallery's Dallas location. This exhibition which features large-scale, hand embroideries with body prints and small etchings on metal, marks the artist's second solo presentation with the gallery following her solo booth at The Armory in New York in 2022.
There is Life in this Nakedness continues Aboah's investigations into the body as a medium and its ability to serve as a powerful conduit for the exploration of human connections, emotions, and the ephemeral nature of existence. The exhibition title alludes to the raw vulnerability and inherent vitality present in the artist's work, where the body becomes a living canvas for self-expression and interpersonal encounters.
The exhibition is primarily composed of embroideries featuring body impressions, each one a testament to a fleeting moment forever preserved in the fabric. These impressions, created through Aboah's encounters with herself and others, stand as intimate records of presence, proclaiming, "I was here." The artist meticulously embroiders the negative space surrounding the body prints, paying homage to the impressed figures while simultaneously reshaping the context and boundaries of the work. The delicate threads, woven with intention and care, add layers of nuance and ambiguity, inviting viewers to confront the complexities of the human condition.
Alongside the embroideries, Aboah presents etchings on metal that mimic the negative space in her fabric works. These etchings serve as a powerful testament to the artist's pursuit of permanence amidst the transient nature of existence.
Aboah considers the body not merely as a subject, but as a potent medium for exploring the intricacies of human experience. Her embroideries and etchings blur the boundaries between the personal and the universal, the ephemeral and the enduring, creating a space where viewers can engage with the fundamental questions of existence.
Kesewa Aboah (b. 1994, London, U.K.) lives and works in London. She received her BA in Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts, New York (2017). Her work has been exhibited internationally, with solo presentations at Incubator 23, London; The Armory Show, 12.26, New York, NY; as well as group presentations at Frieze No. 9 Cork Street, London; Christies London, London; Timothy Taylor Gallery, London. Aboah was an Artist in Residence at ArtsIceland in Isafordur, Iceland in 2018.
There is Life in this Nakedness continues Aboah's investigations into the body as a medium and its ability to serve as a powerful conduit for the exploration of human connections, emotions, and the ephemeral nature of existence. The exhibition title alludes to the raw vulnerability and inherent vitality present in the artist's work, where the body becomes a living canvas for self-expression and interpersonal encounters.
The exhibition is primarily composed of embroideries featuring body impressions, each one a testament to a fleeting moment forever preserved in the fabric. These impressions, created through Aboah's encounters with herself and others, stand as intimate records of presence, proclaiming, "I was here." The artist meticulously embroiders the negative space surrounding the body prints, paying homage to the impressed figures while simultaneously reshaping the context and boundaries of the work. The delicate threads, woven with intention and care, add layers of nuance and ambiguity, inviting viewers to confront the complexities of the human condition.
Alongside the embroideries, Aboah presents etchings on metal that mimic the negative space in her fabric works. These etchings serve as a powerful testament to the artist's pursuit of permanence amidst the transient nature of existence.
Aboah considers the body not merely as a subject, but as a potent medium for exploring the intricacies of human experience. Her embroideries and etchings blur the boundaries between the personal and the universal, the ephemeral and the enduring, creating a space where viewers can engage with the fundamental questions of existence.
Kesewa Aboah (b. 1994, London, U.K.) lives and works in London. She received her BA in Fine Arts from School of Visual Arts, New York (2017). Her work has been exhibited internationally, with solo presentations at Incubator 23, London; The Armory Show, 12.26, New York, NY; as well as group presentations at Frieze No. 9 Cork Street, London; Christies London, London; Timothy Taylor Gallery, London. Aboah was an Artist in Residence at ArtsIceland in Isafordur, Iceland in 2018.
