Farewell Savane
Kotaro Nukaga, Tokyo, JP
December 2021
The title of this exhibition, Farewell Savane was inspired by the song Savane from the final solo album by Ali Farka Touré, a Malian musician who Ibrahim often listened to
while working on his paintings to relax. Says Touré, “I was inspired when I crossed the desert and I was struck by how the savannah and the environment have been destroyed
by drought. There’s no green, no grass, no trees. But when I travelled to other countries I couldn’t replace the savannah I knew. I had to find a way to express this.” In response to this, Ibrahim states, "The meaning behind ‘Farewell Savane’ speaks to each of us; we all have a story and are nostalgic for something. It is to signify comfort, implying that wherever you may travel to there will be tastes, scents or slices of scenery along the way, that will solidify our identity or fulfill our longing for home." Can finding similarities within the love we all have for our homeland, families, and friends transcend racial and ideological contentions, and become a means to bring us back from the divide? We invite you to come see the exhibition and discover the answer for yourself.
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Road to Yamoussoukro (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 180x120cm/72x48in
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A trusted soul (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 90x120cm/36x48in
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Better late than never (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 120x90cm/48x36in
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MP3 Files (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 120x190cm/48x72in
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Le Bâtisseur (2021)
Acrylic on canvas 180x100cm/72x39in
Kotaro Nukaga, Tokyo, JP
December 2021
The title of this exhibition, Farewell Savane was inspired by the song Savane from the final solo album by Ali Farka Touré, a Malian musician who Ibrahim often listened to
while working on his paintings to relax. Says Touré, “I was inspired when I crossed the desert and I was struck by how the savannah and the environment have been destroyed
by drought. There’s no green, no grass, no trees. But when I travelled to other countries I couldn’t replace the savannah I knew. I had to find a way to express this.” In response to this, Ibrahim states, "The meaning behind ‘Farewell Savane’ speaks to each of us; we all have a story and are nostalgic for something. It is to signify comfort, implying that wherever you may travel to there will be tastes, scents or slices of scenery along the way, that will solidify our identity or fulfill our longing for home." Can finding similarities within the love we all have for our homeland, families, and friends transcend racial and ideological contentions, and become a means to bring us back from the divide? We invite you to come see the exhibition and discover the answer for yourself.
—
Road to Yamoussoukro (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 180x120cm/72x48in
A trusted soul (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 90x120cm/36x48in
Better late than never (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 120x90cm/48x36in
MP3 Files (2021)
Acrylic on canvas, 120x190cm/48x72in
Le Bâtisseur (2021)
Acrylic on canvas 180x100cm/72x39in