Latest news with #Madu
Observer
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Observer
Van Gogh Museum features African artist for first time
Expressive brushstrokes depict a man seated at a table, his face hidden behind a book of Japanese prints, a plastic chair in the corner, and a Nigerian passport lying on the table. It is one of 10 new paintings by Nigerian artist John Madu, created for "Paint Your Path" -- the first solo exhibition by an African artist at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, which opened Friday. Madu, 42, produced the 10 works in just three months in his Lagos studio, each responding to one of seven paintings by the Dutch master. "Before I even knew who Van Gogh was, I knew about his work," said the artist, recalling how as a child he admired his father's calendars filled with Impressionist art. "Van Gogh's works actually stuck out to me because of the yellows, the swirls, the strokes," he told AFP. Madu plays on the global familiarity of Van Gogh's work to build connections between local and universal themes, notably through self-portraiture and the use of symbols. Van Gogh's famous wooden chair is reimagined by Madu as a white plastic seat -- sometimes the main subject, sometimes carried on the shoulder of a protagonist resembling the artist entering a cafe in France's Provence region with a yellow facade. "So I feel the world of Van Gogh plays out for people to relate to you," he said. "I really wanted to pay homage to this master I really love. "So I thought for it to blend perfectly, the strokes, the brush strokes, the colour theme should connect together. "That would make the works actually feel like one." This is not Madu's first dialogue with Western art -- his previous works have drawn inspiration from Gustav Klimt, Edward Hopper and Norman Rockwell. These references resonated with the "Beeldbrekers" ("Image Breakers"), a group of young adults who co-commissioned the exhibition with the goal of making the Van Gogh Museum more inclusive -- both in its exhibitions and outreach. "For me, especially, it's a kind of representation to see an African artist being represented in a museum like this," said Himaya Ayo, a 22-year-old member of the Beeldbrekers. "So, when I heard that, I immediately signed up for it, and now I get to take part in this amazing, but also very historical moment." —AFP
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Van Gogh Museum features African artist for first time - Visual Art - Arts & Culture
Expressive brushstrokes depict a man seated at a table, his face hidden behind a book of Japanese prints, a plastic chair in the corner, and a Nigerian passport lying on the table. It is one of 10 new paintings by Nigerian artist John Madu, created for "Paint Your Path" -- the first solo exhibition by an African artist at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum, which opened Friday. Madu, 42, produced the 10 works in just three months in his Lagos studio, each responding to one of seven paintings by the Dutch master. "Before I even knew who Van Gogh was, I knew about his work," said the artist, recalling how as a child he admired his father's calendars filled with Impressionist art. "Van Gogh's works actually stuck out to me because of the yellows, the swirls, the strokes," he told AFP. Madu plays on the global familiarity of Van Gogh's work to build connections between local and universal themes, notably through self-portraiture and the use of symbols. Van Gogh's famous wooden chair is reimagined by Madu as a white plastic seat -- sometimes the main subject, sometimes carried on the shoulder of a protagonist resembling the artist entering a cafe in France's Provence region with a yellow facade. "So I feel the world of Van Gogh plays out for people to relate to you," he said. "I really wanted to pay homage to this master I really love. "So I thought for it to blend perfectly, the strokes, the brush strokes, the colour theme should connect together. "That would make the works actually feel like one." This is not Madu's first dialogue with Western art -- his previous works have drawn inspiration from Gustav Klimt, Edward Hopper and Norman Rockwell. These references resonated with the "Beeldbrekers" ("Image Breakers"), a group of young adults who co-commissioned the exhibition with the goal of making the Van Gogh Museum more inclusive -- both in its exhibitions and outreach. "For me, especially, it's a kind of representation to see an African artist being represented in a museum like this," said Himaya Ayo, a 22-year-old member of the Beeldbrekers. "So, when I heard that, I immediately signed up for it, and now I get to take part in this amazing, but also very historical moment." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
11-04-2025
- General
- CairoScene
Threads of Hope & Madu Showcase Egyptian Crafts at Diriyah Biennale
Threads of Hope & Madu Showcase Egyptian Crafts at Diriyah Biennale Egyptian artisan collectives Threads of Hope (TOH) and Madu made their debut in Saudi Arabia this April as part of the Diriyah Biennale Foundation's cultural programme, introducing Saudi audiences to Egypt's rich traditions in embroidery, natural dyeing, and sustainable craftsmanship. TOH led two hands-on masterclasses for visitors: an embroidery workshop at the Diriyah Foundation's Turuq: The Many Ways of Food symposium, and a natural dye workshop at the Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah. Both events brought Egypt's artistic heritage into direct dialogue with regional culture, using craft to highlight shared values in Islamic art and design. The embroidery sessions, which took place over three days, invited participants to create hand-embroidered placemats, integrating traditional motifs and techniques. Hosted as part of the four-day Turuq symposium, which explored Arab culinary rituals from dawn to dusk, the workshops connected the visual art of embroidery with the cultural ritual of dining. In Jeddah, the natural dye workshop focused on the symbolism of fruits and plants in the Qur'an, using pomegranate skins, turmeric, and other natural materials to dye cloth pouches. The session was designed to quietly explore Islamic ideas of sacred nature while offering participants an accessible encounter with Egypt's textile traditions. Founded in Cairo, Threads of Hope is a social enterprise that trains and employs refugee and migrant women in a range of artisanal techniques, including embroidery, crochet, ajour, hand painting, and patchwork. The organisation also offers psychological, medical, and social support. 'It's about dignity, visibility, and giving their work the platform it deserves,' TOH shared. Their partner Madu, also based in Cairo, produces eco-conscious handmade products, many of which are crafted by TOH's artisans. At the Biennale, Madu presented a selection of sustainably made homewares and textiles, further positioning Egyptian craft within a contemporary regional design context. According to TOH, participation in the Diriyah Biennale Foundation was 'a big moment' for both collectives. 'For Madu, it's a chance to introduce Egyptian craftsmanship to a regional design audience — and show that these products carry not just beauty, but story and meaning. For Threads of Hope, it's an opportunity to showcase the talent and skill of the refugee and migrant women producing at TOH.' While the workshops marked TOH and Madu's first public engagement in Saudi Arabia, both collectives see this as the beginning of a larger journey—one that blends heritage and empowerment, tradition and contemporary relevance, as they work to expand their presence in the Kingdom and across the region.
