TIWANI CONTEMPORARY - A NEW LONDON GALLERY WITH A FOCUS ON CONTEMPORARY ART FROM AFRICA LAUNCHES WITH ITS FIRST GROUP SHOW: THE TIE THAT BINDS US

PRESS RELEASE [29 November 2011]

The Tie that Binds Us will feature the work of Mary Evans, Oyekan Lawson, Emeka Ogboh, Adolphus Opara and Ben Osaghae, five artists who share a common Nigerian heritage. In their work they explore the diverse social and cultural issues of their environment through a variety of media, including paper, photography, sculpture, painting, video and sound.

Located in Fizrovia, Tiwani Contemporary will focus on contemporary visual art and culture from Nigeria. In addition it will present artists from across the continent, its diaspora, and the Global South to an increasingly interested London audience.

Director, Ayo Adeyinka said, “As contemporary art patronage becomes more diverse, so does collector interest for "new" artistic frontiers. For many of these collectors, modern and contemporary art from Africa remain excitingly under-explored.”

Tiwani Contemporary will work in collaboration with the Centre of Contemporary Art, Lagos (CCA, Lagos), to devise a dynamic and innovative art and public programme. Bisi Silva, Director/Curator CCA, Lagos said of the relationship, “This initiative presents a new format in which both organisations intend to leverage their experience, the advantages of their location and their wide network in Africa. We are pleased to be involved in a project that will highlight some of the activities happening in the burgeoning Nigerian and African cultural sector.”

Director, Maria Varnava added, “Our public programme intends to engage not only our UK audiences but also those in Africa and its diaspora. An area of focus includes addressing the informational vacuum that exists on Modern and Contemporary art from Africa. There is an urgency to create a vigorous documentation programme, providing in many cases the first publication for many of the exhibiting artists.”

The Tie that Binds Us will run from 7 December 2011 – 21 January 2012 at Tiwani Contemporary. The Directors Ayo Adenyinka, Jude Cesar and Maria Varnava along with Curatorial Advisor, Bisi Silva invite you to join them at the opening of The Tie that Binds Us on 6 December from 6.00-9.00 at Tiwani Contemporary, 16 Little Portland Street, London, W1W 8BP

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Gina Traboulsi, FlamingoRose
T. 07843 393 721 | E. gina@flamingorose.co.uk