MASSIMODECARLO – Ludovic Nkoth: TRANSFERRED MEMORIES (Work No Dey)
Opening reception Friday April 8th 5:30 – 7:30PM
MASSIMODECARLO is pleased to announce Ludovic Nkoth’s debut exhibition TRANSFERRED MEMORIES (Work No Dey) opening at MASSIMODECARLO London on April 8, 2022.
Born in Cameroon, Ludovic Nkoth (b.1994) moved to the United States at the age of 13, he now lives and works in New York. TRANSFERRED MEMORIES (Work No Dey) presents a new body of work distinguished by Nkoth’s fluid expressionism, using family portraits and scenes of daily life in Cameroon as his subjects.
Nkoth’s works are personal pieces; his process reconnects him with his family and his country of birth. However, the paintings are also reflections on the broader social and political issues within Cameroonian history, such as the African diaspora and colonialism. Taking inspiration from his family photo albums, the artist paints truthful portraits, which he calls ‘honest paintings’, where his subjects are free from exaggeration and embellishment. The artist portrays normal people with the intention of shining a light on subjects who have been traditionally ignored in the history of painting, reflective of societal hierarchies and prejudices. Nkoth says that ‘by focusing on my memories and comparing it with today’s reality, I hope viewers see my paintings as mirrors that allows them to see themselves, question themselves and our social systems’. Mirrors reflect the moment they are in, but also show and highlight things that we do not always notice or expect to see.
