Okon, Ima-Abasi
Ima-Abasi Okon’s practice includes video, printing, sculpture and painting and explores questions surrounding language, faith and theory. Her multifaceted, sculptural installation Put Something in the Air: The E-s-s-e-n-t-i-a-l Mahalia Jackson Blowing Up DJ Pollie Pop's Chopped and Screwed Rendition of Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries— Military-Entertainment Complex Dub [Jericho Speak Life!]*(free of legacy)* (2017), consists of two brass vents fixed to the wall of the gallery, jewellery, and an Oriented Strand Board (OSB) panel. When discussing her work, the artist describes searching for the opportunity to present a simple gesture that speaks to a range of highly complex subjects. She is interested in systems which make no rational sense and lead to the impossible. The vents appear to link the work to the gallery’s ventilation system. The panel is made of a low-grade sheet material, but coated with Mahogany varnish. The polished finish of the vents and shimmering jewellery also refer to customisation and the re-styling of objects. Together, the components in the work are performing as something they are not, and Okon’s gestures offer alternative narratives.
- Artwork Details: 80 x 80cm 200 x 30cm 150 x 30cm
- Edition:
- Material description: Brass, acoustic sound underlay, artists’ jewellery, polyurethane varnish on board
- Credit line: Photo: Bartosz Bali © the artist.
- Theme:
- Medium: Installation
- Accession number: ACC12/2017