Ekene May is a Nigerian artist renowned for her vibrant use of color and bold abstract figures, drawing inspiration from the akua'ba dolls of the Fante people of Ghana. Though she is Nigerian, her work explores the intersection of cultures and history, breathing new life into pre-colonial African masks through contemporary mediums. Her art not only highlights the beauty and vibrancy of African life but also delves into deeper themes of identity, emotion, and societal commentary. We sat down with Ekene May to chat about her artistic influences, the role of satire in her work, and her unique use of oversized glasses as metaphors. Here’s her story.
artdey: Your work is renowned for its vibrant colors and bold abstract figures inspired by the akua'ba dolls of the Fante people. Can you tell us about the significance of these dolls and how they influence your art?
Ekene May: My work explores the re-modification of Pre-Colonial African Masks through Contemporary African mediums and style, specifically the Akua’ba Dolls of the Fante people of Ghana, even though I am Nigerian. I am passionate about the influence of cultures and history on my work. I consider my use of akua’ba dolls a re-incarnation of sorts. This ability for Pre-Colonial African Masks, which served different purposes at the time, to make a comeback—not as carvings on wood or palace walls, not as objects carried on the backs of women who prayed to be fertile and bear their children, or objects of worship in traditional shrines, or items held by my foremothers for good luck as they crossed the trans-Atlantic oceans to be slaves in the Americas—but on canvasses, my canvasses. They embody the full representation, emotions, and identities of Africans, which is unmistakable in the vibrancy of our lives. The rich colors our cultures exude and how loudly and happily we live and lead our lives are central to my work.
Tomorrow Will Wait For Me 2 by Ekene May, 2023
artdey: Satire plays a crucial role in your pieces, often highlighting various aspects of contemporary African life. How do you choose the subjects of your satire, and what message do you hope to convey through it?
Ekene May: Each piece I create constructs layered compositions of emotions and experiences, that question our ability to change our experiences and poke our perspectives, all of which are built on our past and how our subconscious mind, interprets everything, to determine who we ultimately are and the choices we make. I consider my use of ‘satire’ to be a deflection from caricature and a specific exaggeration of the glasses my characters have on them, without which I do not consider my paintings complete. Every aspect of my work (from the use of bold solid colors as backgrounds, over-sized glasses, and subtle impasto), is a deliberate attempt to create and tell stories that are in tandem with my reality as an artist, which I believe to be contemporary and I also consider it my duty as an artist, to tell these stories. With time, I have found ways to flip what satire means to me, so that the titles of my work do not simply stop at being a word, but an exaggeration of a word, into lines and sentences, that pass across deeper messages and meanings, to those who come across them, with ease.
artdey: The oversized glasses in your art serve as distinctive metaphors. Can you elaborate on what these glasses represent and how they have evolved in your work over time?
Ekene May: I am fascinated by “oversized glasses”, which serve as different metaphors over time and they continue to evolve with me. Sometimes they stand for “transition“ and ”time” and the subtle way the past, the present, and the future, are made up of components of what we have seen, what we will see, and what we are about to see. My paintings allow me to explore human emotions and how our past experiences transcend our now and affect our future. Employing a method of “impasto, which I call “subtle Impasto”, I metaphorically represent “being” and “sight” as it regards an individual’s ability to be trapped in time and the ultimate inevitability of sight so that even the blind see. The over-sized glasses on my figures are also metaphors for ‘sight’ which translates to our ability to see the world with or without our eyes and this deeply states that seeing isn’t an ‘eye-thing’, it’s more a ‘sense-thing’, thus, we do not see with our eyes only, we see with our hearts.
I Wish I Knew Then, What I Know Now by Ekene May, 2023
artdey: What advice would you give to emerging artists who are trying to find their unique voice and style in the art world?
Ekene May: The best art advice I got is ‘do the work and do excellent work’. So I would say, work until you love what you see, it will take time, but it always does as good things are wont to, it will take a lot of courage to like what looks different from what everyone else is doing, but like your paintings first, enjoying your process is enough and is a good place to start, because it will help you get better, push until it is excellent and make you better than you were yesterday. My advice is to read a lot, do your research, be your number one fan and your biggest art collector, and remember to dream.
The Way You See It 1 by Ekene May, 2023
Her journey and artistic philosophy are deeply rooted in the rich tapestry of African culture and history. May's innovative approach to re-modifying Pre-Colonial African Masks, particularly the Akua’ba Dolls of the Fante people, showcases her passion for cultural influence and historical significance. Through her use of satire, bold colors, and distinctive metaphors like oversized glasses, she creates layered compositions that provoke thought and evoke emotions, reflecting the vibrancy and complexity of contemporary African life. By pushing boundaries and constantly striving for excellence, Ekene May exemplifies the essence of a contemporary artist committed to telling powerful and resonant stories through her art. Shop her masterful collection here.