Johnson Eziefula’s contemplative portraits interrogate the circumstances that cloud the beauty in his life. Engrossed in subject matters such as fate, faith, and love, these themes were instigated by the terminal illness of his brother, to whom this exhibition is dedicated. He embarks on a journey towards self-reflection, soul-searching, and introspection, characterized by a strong sense of nostalgia. As a self-described naturalist painter, he aims to capture the essence of the human condition, focusing on attributes such as identity, psyche, and cultural hybridity. His early influences include illustrations in works of canonical African literature, such as Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, and various anthologies of African poetry.

Eziefula (b. 1998) is a self-taught mixed media artist. His interest and love for art was evident since he was a child and over time he began practicing art professionally and publicly. Exploring the concept of westernization and cultural hybridization, Eziefula’s works combining charcoal, acrylic, pastel and fabric on paper and canvas, are loaded with context and history. Eziefula’s highly aesthetic jet-black subjects are placed at the intersection of clashing cultures, addressing themes of identity, human psychology, and history.