HER SPACE A
S OL O
V I RT UAL
T HE
S OMI
E X HI BI T I ON
E F F E C T
Copyright © 2020 by Somi Nwandu All Rights Reserved.
HER SPACE A SOLO VIRTUAL EXHIBITION
Cover : Somi Nwandu, Ultraviolet Harmonics: She/Her in Equipoise, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
THE SOMI EFFECT
SOMI NWANDU ABOUT
She obtained a degree in Fashion Design and
At 26, Somi Nwandu has studied, lived, and worked in five cities, across four countries on
graduated in 2013. A degree in Fashion
three continents and has traveled to over 35
Business Management and International Trade
nations. Born and raised in Maryland, U.S.A. as
and Marketing for the Fashion Industries with
well as Enugu, Eastern Nigeria, Somi has always
a Minor in Economics from the renowned
been fascinated with artistic matters from an
Fashion Institute of Technology and graduated
early age. She expressed her creativity through
in 2016. She recently completed a Master's in
writing, painting, photography, drawings, fashion
Global Creative and Cultural Industries (GCCI)Â
and the digital world.
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THE SOMI EFFECT from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London while she actively pursued her creative goals and passions. Beyond academia, Somi has had the opportunity to plan, develop and showcase major initiatives for various stakeholders in the creative industries. Her experiences draw from holding positions in branding, creative project management, marketing and art direction. She has worked with globally recognized institutions in the United States of America, Europe and Nigeria, including Tom Ford International, Macy’s, SMO Contemporary Art, and more. She currently works for the and exhibiting visual artist and photographer
Smithsonian National Museum of African Art,
who works in various mediums and she believes Somi is a quintessential creative soul with a
in the power of art to uplift, unify and inspire a
deep desire to forge cross-cultural ties
people. With this, she hopes to emphasize the
specifically through the Arts. One of her
significance in building more cross-cultural
greatest passions is simply creating; in various
creative ties between Africa and the rest of the
realms. She is a burgeoning, award-winning
world. 2
MYSELVES BY SOMI NWANDU
Faces have long been considered special as social signals, from prehistoric amulets to many modern painters, faces are central to art. The face is the doorway to our evolution. It needs no language; it makes us human and it connects us. Personal and cultural identity is an important message conveyed by the face; the face is a story without words. It’s one of the first things that we learn to identify with our eyes. My works show facial features interwoven with patterns that reflect a powerful heritage and culture, an African culture, representing a significant slice of my being, referred to as MYSELVES.
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The future, or shall I say the present, is digital; as technology continues to revolutionize the world, it has greatly fueled the innovative thinking and creative freedom of varying artists. Emerging tools have given artists numerous ways to express themselves. There is a desire to invent and to create with technology as one can enter new avenues and connect with information and people around the world. MYSELVES are digital artworks that show facial features of fluid boundaries with various possible interpretations of their stories. MYSELVES tells a tale of the future and the past: my future and my past. I express the desire to hide and be seen, simultaneously, and the hesitations to treasure true beauty and strength while exploring the sui generis nature of individuality. The second purpose is to, eventually, educate others and attempt to cultivate empathy, regarding the difficult mental challenges we face and endure. Amongst MYSELVES, I discuss the functionality of the mind as it struggles to persevere and make sense of the reality the body is forced to live in; mimicking patterns of the mind, I use the textures of African-ness to lay emphasis on my identity and predilection for fashion as an art form. Through MYSELVES I create my visual vocabulary and aesthetic, I attempt to break the negative connotations surrounding the subject of mental stability and allow for one to explore the double edged infinitude of one’s self.
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Through MYSELVES I create my visual vocabulary and aesthetic, I attempt to break the negative connotations surrounding the subject of mental stability and allow for one to explore the double - edged infinitude of one’s self.
Somi Nwandu, Space Cadet: Her (in) Astral Invasion, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Somi Nwandu, Solenoid Supreme: Her Dynamic Force. Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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HER SPACE BY SOMI NWANDU
I am inspired to explore the waves, as a phenomenon and metaphor, of African femininity in tandem with the supreme value of human existence through Afrofuturistic expression in this collection. The pieces layer emotion, craft and sound/motion to focus on three areas: mental stabilization advancements, the utilization of an African woman’s femininity to personalize Afrofuturism, and electromagnetism as a metaphor.
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Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the traditional understanding of the universe. Through the lens of Afrofuturism, we can speculate upon ways to subvert this understanding and effect future change. Afrofuturism is the reimagining of a future imagined with arts, science and technology, and typically invokes themes of reclamation, Black liberation, and the revisioning of the past combined with predictions of the future through a Black cultural lens. With a twofold aim to entertain and enlighten, 'Afrofuturists' strive to break down racial, ethnic, and social limitations to empower and free individuals to be themselves. Although it is currently dominating the media and continuing to open up endless ways of interpreting and changing our history, it has the potential to offer an increased intersectionality through the perspective of a Black, African woman: a perspective that is often whitewashed, demonized, or completely silenced. Afrofuturism allows her to write and create without needing permission nor parameters. In this collection, Her Space , I explore, through Afrofuturistic expression, the waves of African femininity parallel to a supreme value of human existence in mental, and psychological organization.
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Afrofuturism is at the heart of this collection. Though the one I chose to explore is centered on that of the African woman and the dichotomy of her femininity and mental state. She is a world within herself; full of beauty and struggle and deserving of discovery and exploration. My work considers this through a Black singular feminine gaze with touches of soft yet bold, subtle yet strong, ethereal yet profoundly human. Too often the Afrofuturistic woman is portrayed in a masculine light, or androgynous. She is either depicted in a space suit, as a manly warrior, or other traditionally and recognizably male centric façades in order to “proveâ€? she is capable of great feats necessary for survival in a futuristic world. These artworks embrace femininity through the bright, luminescent color palettes, body and facial language as well as flowing patterns traditionally associated with the feminine hand. This collection does not shy away from galactic, alienist or celestial elements frequently used in describing otherworldly, futuristic natures. I want to continue that conversation along with mental stimulation however through a nontraditional and feminine visual presentation. I use it as a way to explore the world of today and our turmoil. This progressive woman is occupied by thoughts of a past, present, and future and the ongoing battle between good and evil. There is a battle within each woman, and within every woman, there is a universe yearning to be seen and appreciated.
Her Space, was created through a stimulating experience with the
album Amnioverse by Lapaloux. Amnioverse is ‘a sort of portmanteau of the amniotic sac and the universe, revolves around notions of fluidity; that the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth is a never ending continuum. He channels these ethereal ideas through a new and ever-expanding modular synth set-up, injecting human emotion, and layering recordings of weather, wind, rain and fire, lending an elemental, celestial feel to the composition.’ The album has a very ethereal, futuristic, celestial sound to it, and although it was created by a man, it is heavily doused in the hues and harmonies of femininity. Amnioverse was an integral component to my creative process; it is as if each piece was birthed through a song.
Somi Nwandu, Ultraviolet Harmonics: She/Her in Equipoise, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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LIMB TO LIMB BY LAPALUX
You lay asleep for a while In humble new skin And then Stretch away the day for a while From limb to limb Let it all in ...
If you get lost, go home Just follow the reeds To the town you grew up in Where it’s always the same And if you get stopped, say no You’ve somewhere to be and there’s no use in waiting Stay right here for a while In quiet nothing And when We hit the earth pretty hard Hit the ground running And we’ll let it begin...
For the majority of history, the mind and its functionality has been a mystery to humanity. The last few decades have seen scientific development allow the observance, understanding and advancement of how things are processed within the brain. Such advances are summarized by the Harvard Medical School: In recent decades, scientists have developed electrical and magnetic devices for observing the brain in action — remembering, deciding, and experiencing emotion — in ways that were once unimaginable. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) are among the most revolutionary of these techniques. Changing brain activity in any meaningful or lasting way by electromagnetic means has proven more difficult, but glimmers of progress are appearing. One example is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), in which a strong electrical current applied to the scalp induces generalized seizures (spreading to the whole brain) for the relief of severe intractable depression and other psychiatric disorders. Another is Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), which is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of depression. An electric coil in the helmet sends out regular pulses of electromagnetic energy. These beating sounds produce changes in the brain area responsible for the disorder.
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Her Space is inspired by research in advances in this area of scientific inquiry and the quest for the nature of consciousness. I am stirred by its broader implications for a realised imagination through the intersection of medical biology and electrodynamic technology. This series explores the relationship between, and in parallel, this femininity and magnetic stimulation to consider the interconnectedness of the past, present, and future. This representation may be understandable when the origins of the art lie in a tumultuous mind. Most often, in tumultuous minds, what brings a sense of tranquility is the illusion of one’s self in another world. Another space. Another dimension. People often find a sense of serenity in the uncontrollable world by picturing oneself in a world far removed from their own, where they face and overcome larger than life challenges unique to the illusion. This is something that Afrofuturism seeks to bring about artistically, and which technology and neuroscience are also striving towards.
Somi Nwandu, Terrestrial Magnetism: Her I(c)onic Bond, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Somi Nwandu, Resurgent Radiation: Her in Void Oblivion, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Her Space is a series of digital photo-painted and illustrated self-portraits collaged with scanned textile swatches which bring together the aesthetics of cyborg themes, loosely tribal motifs, android imagery and gleaming metallics that might be appropriate for a voyage to Pluto’s outer reaches. Oscillating, pulsating patterns create movement in the artworks displayed on lenticular lenses, mimics the physical action of electromagnetic waves, and the radiant, shimmering colors suggest a visual presence of an electrodynamics reaction. Bright, contrasting colors in the textile designs, which overlay the portraits, invoke the forces of electromagnetism. This tension between oscillating energies and forces - between electrically charged particles and polarities which results in electromagnetic waves - are deterministic but tend towards an abstraction in my works.
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The juxtaposition of hues in these pieces comes as a metaphor for electrodynamics – the application of electromagnetic forces to bring upon material interactions that underpin everything from our everyday use of technology to the advancements in neuroscience discussed above. All of this takes place among cosmic motifs, which provide the background for (self) portraits that express the power and boldness of a Black woman who has taken command of her own universe. As shifting forms become transformed through emergent and critical practice, one is left with a testament to the possibilities of our era; the possibilities of a prospective, if not utopian, future.
Somi Nwandu, She in Isomorphic Rays, Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Somi Nwandu, Cosmic Cortex: She in Omnipotence. Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Afrofuturism can surely be feminine, beautiful and thought provoking. What I create is fiction based scientific ideas that are steeped in African traditions, mental health advancements and a black female identity. This is the story of an Afrofuturistic woman who is free and subservient to no one...This is Her Space.
Somi Nwandu, Esoteric Escape: She in Charge.. Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Somi Nwandu, She in Solar Opposites (Diptych), Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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Somi Nwandu, She in Solar Opposites (Diptych), Digital Mixed Media on Lenticular Lens, 61 x 61 cm, 2020
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HER SPACE(S) BY SOMI NWANDU You walk on land that is both alien and home. Fire from a distant land calls you out, twisting and pulling you into an identity that has been lost; been broken. The inner voice of a lost soul cries out for essence for they make you forget who you are. Thy Self. An imperfect abstract, an idea torn apart by years of attachment and desires. Lost are you in the sea of endless identities.
You wanted to preserve what you are but the tempest winds of time pull on the loose threads of you, unravelling you into nothing - for you let yourself be held where you were most vulnerable. When it comes to saving yourself, it leaves one vulnerable to invasions. In the last moments of your consciousness, you manage to have a single thought, the seed of that thought would grow into the new self. Your new self.
And out came the roots clinging on to the subconscious - blossoming into the lost voice that you sought, the agonizing search for this better self. You find yourself to where you were before. A vicious cycle of never ending invasions. Here again. You are reborn. From nothing, you are now once more. On the stage of the world, you stand alone. Markings of different coloured winds lay claim on your skin, embraced by the alluring smell of tomorrow; decorated with the symbols of your freedom - symbols of identity. She liberating She.
Blasting away on speed unmatched only by your resilience. The memories of yesteryears fade into the darkness, It reminds you of what you were and what you are. It chimes with the past, clinging onto the present. Now free from invasion, free to witness the birth of a chromatic tomorrow. You swing into a vortex, a tunnel of blinding lights, circling into the future that you saw, the future that you build. The place where none can invade but yourself. You dream with your eyes wide open, you create the dream where you are the master. For invasions only happen when your eyes are shut close. You awaken. From a dream where the dreamer no longer exists.
This is the story of an Afrofuturistic woman who is free and subservient to no one...This is Her Space. - Somi Nwandu