Urbanist Art Gallery in Dubai, in collaboration with the Special Envoy for Trade and Investment Office of the President, has organised Echoes of Sierra Leone, a vibrant group show that celebrates the culture and artistic heritage of Sierra Leone. The exhibition aims to elevate Sierra Leonean artists, providing them a platform for national and international recognition. Running through 22 November 2024, the show features such creatives as Hawa-Jane Bangura, Hickmatu Leigh, Felix Rhodes, Julius Parker, and Zahra Fakih (Zato).
About the artists
Hawa-Jane Bangura (b. 1988, Sierra Leone) is a visual artist residing in Freetown (Sierra Leone), who holds a law degree and has built a successful career as a lawyer in New York and Sierra Leone’s corporate sector. In 2013, she co-founded The Barray, an art collective comprising 15 local artists, whom she trained and tutored in art history and contemporary art.
Bangura’s work challenges traditional portrayals of African women, using bold colours to convey strength, elegance, confidence, and beauty. Educated in the West, she was not initially exposed to Africa’s pre-colonial history and its people. Through her art, she delves into these hidden history and culture to reimagine African identity and explore women’s representation within it.
Hickmatu Leigh (b. 1997), an artist and self-taught photographer based in Freetown (Sierra Leone), earned a BSc in Public Health from the Njala University (Sierra Leone) and is a member of The Barray. Among her achievements is the UN Foundation SDG Vanguard Award.
Leigh’s work revolves around Sierra Leonean women who have historically been marginalised, showcasing their resilience. Through her camera lens, she shares their stories, supporting systems that bring them fundamental human rights. Leigh’s black-and-white photographs often use veils and masks to explore the themes of visibility and identity and highlight the beauty in age and wisdom.
Felix Rhodes (born in Freetown, Sierra Leone) is an artist, graphic designer, and sculptor. He obtained his BFA and AAS in Art and Graphic Design from Minnesota State University (MN, USA) and Bergen Community College (NJ, USA).
Rhodes is famous for his colourful abstract expressionist art pieces created with a full range of mediums, such as oils, acrylics, charcoal, pastels, wire, and found objects. His works portray the daily lives of people, animals, and nature while addressing social issues. Through his work, the artist draws attention to the connectivity of nature and man-made objects, with a focus on sustainability and environmental awareness.
Julius C. Parker (Choema), a visual artist and art instructor, creates oil and watercolour paintings, wood relief sculptures, book and digital illustrations, cartoons, signages, and batik. According to the artist, his work records time, the beauty, and the struggles of daily life to preserve history, culture, and ordinary experiences. The cartoons touch on Sierra Leone’s political, socio-economic, and religious topics.
Through her art, visual artist Zahra Fakih (Zato) seeks to change the world and how we perceive it. Preferring acrylic markers on canvas and also experimenting with other mediums, she creates works that address different social issues, such as women’s empowerment and plastic pollution. While Zato also writes, creates music, and poetry, recent years have seen her focus on producing colourful art.
Believing in the unifying and healing power of art, Zato’s work sparks conversations centred on peace, love, and unity. Her vision is for a world where compassion, understanding, and love prevail over conflict, ignorance, and hate.
To get more information about Echoes of Sierra Leone, please go to the official website of Urbanist Art Gallery.
In addition, you might be interested in viewing LOBI LOBI, a solo show by Cameroonian artist and writer Pascale Marthine Tayou available online.
