Alexis Galleries is pleased to present Recycled Matter, a group exhibition of exploratory works by Samuel Nnorom, Yusuf Durodola, Konboye Eugene and Chukwuemeka M. Osisiego. By taking a vivid look at materiality and the environment, the exhibition examines issues that originate from the local but are connected with vital global conversation. 

 Recently, there have been concerns around climate change and the need to recycle, reuse and repurpose organic and inorganic wastes to reduce waste littering and pollution. Artists are therefore responding to these concerns by recycling and repurposing wastes to address and comment on issues around them. 

 Samuel Nnorom presents works that continue his examination of social structure, social organisation, human condition and safe spaces, which began in 2020. The history and social significance of Ankara fabric takes centre stage as he dialogues with the concept of space, distribution and distance.  

Exploring the techniques of stitching and pasting flip flops, Konboye Eugene put up portraits of children to reference their innocence, simplicity and unadulterated thoughts. Here, Konboye connects process with subject as he relates the complicated process of creating art to training children. 

 Chukwuemeka M. Osisiego continues his inquiry into the Aristotelian concept of “Maintaining the Golden Mean” where he advocates for courage and equilibrium in place of excesses and recklessness. In these pieces, he intensifies his exploratory journey by incorporating aluminium cans into his wooden materials. 

Yusuf Durodola sees waste from the environment as extensions of human existence and custodians of human imprints and identity. Here, Yusuf assembled automobile and electronic gadgets as well as polythene that are either sourced from the environment or obtained through exchange to negotiate the relationship between humans, spaces, and waste. 

Mathew Oyedele 

Curator.