Until 14 January 2024, Kehind Wiley is showing a new exclusive series of works at the Quai Branly Museum. Entitled “A maze of power“, the distinguished artist depicts African power through exhaustive portraits of African heads of state. It’s an exhibition that defies expectations, presenting a new perspective on the relationship between African aesthetics and political power. This is a compelling project that Kehind Wiley has been working on confidentially since 2012, and which he is now unveiling in art museums to invite the public to take part in this visual exploration of power and aesthetics in Africa.
Kehind Wiley is a leading figure in the contemporary African art world. Known for his vibrant, highly naturalistic paintings, he depicts portraits of contemporary Afro-American and Afro-diasporic men and women in heroic poses in reference to European and American portraiture. These works are sublimated by his powerful, majestic rhetoric, giving them an idyllic and distinctly profound insight.
Kehind Wiley’s new series of works, entitled ‘A maze of power‘, was inspired by the presidential election of former President Barack Obama in 2008. Since then, the contemporary artist has been questioning the direction of presidential power, which led him to imagine this series devoted exclusively to African heads of state in 2012. Over the next ten years, he travelled the continent to meet these leaders, exploring with each of them different themes from the aristocratic, military and royal portraits of seventeenth-, eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Europe. This pre-creative approach enables him to create unique compositions that resonate with the image of the ruler he paints on his canvases.
The exhibition space has been organised like a dark labyrinth, guiding visitors towards eleven portraits of African leaders. What makes ‘A maze of power‘ so special is the vitality and aesthetic quality of Kehinde Wiley‘s work. The portraits are sublimated by shimmering colours and rich motifs that are inexorably reminiscent of the history and culture of the country depicted on the canvas. This pictorial generosity illuminates the exhibition space and presents the heads of state in a proud and powerful posture, captivating the viewer’s gaze. This concept highlights the power and individual status of each leader, while underlining their isolation from one another.
“A maze of power” is composed of a series of compositions that faithfully reflect each state representative’s personal vision of what it means to be a contemporary African leader. Going beyond aesthetics, this exhibition also addresses notions of political power in Africa. Kehind Wiley confirms this analysis, saying: “This exhibition encourages us to reflect on the meaning and representation of power in Africa, and on the complex relationship between art and politics. My aim is not to judge the policies pursued by these leaders, but rather to create something new and stimulating.” With these large-scale paintings, the American artist shows viewers the infinite possibilities in terms of taste and discernment, the contours of the ego and the different communication strategies involved in building a personal and public image.
The Quai Branly Museum is hosting a powerful exhibition by Kehind Wiley, who is once again seducing visitors and art lovers with his unique artistic practice. He offers a powerful and faithful visual of the popular image of African heads of state and their true sense of leadership in the development of a nation. This exhibition, organised in partnership with Templon Gallery, reveals how art can transform our vision of the world and gives a new perspective on the expression of political power through artistic aesthetics.
