“Constellations Part 2: Figures in Webs and Ripples of Space”: a reinvention of the world at Accra’s 1957 gallery

1957 Gallery is pleased to announce the exhibition “Constellations Part 2: Figures in Webs and Ripples of Space”. After a successful first presentation in London, which ended on May 25, this new series will run until October 10 in gallery 1957’s second art space in Accra. This sequel promises to be even more enriching than the previous one, thanks to the integration of new artists who immerse the gallery in a plural and immersive atmosphere, exploring various artistic mediums.

The exhibition will spotlight a number of contemporary players, as well as artists collaborating with Gallery 1957 for the first time. Among them are Abdul-Salam Alhassan, Afrane Makof, Akosua Odeibea Amoah-Yeboah, Clifford Bright Abu, Dela Anyah, Dzidzor Azaglo, Elolo Bosoka, Frederick Ebenezer Okai, Ghizlane Sahli, Jasper Dafeamekpor, Na Chainkua Reindorf, Nyahan Tachie-Menson, Putin Ofori, Rosemary Esinam Damalie, Rebekka Macht and Samuel Baah Kortey. Jonathan Okoronkwo and artists who took part in Constellations Part 1 will also be present, including Lois Selasie Arde-Acquah, Phoebe Boswell, Adelaide Damoah, Denyse Gawu-Mensah, Henry Hussey, Sarah Meyohas and Lisa C Soto, not forgetting Victor Ehikhamenor.

By way of introduction, “Constellations – Part 1: Figures on Earth & Beyond” challenged our contemporary perception of the world in the Anthropocene era. This exhibition invites us to re-examine the spiritual, science-fictional and historical representations of figures in their environment, through a prism of interconnectedness and empathy. By revisiting enduring global narratives around animism, space colonization and creation myths, visitors are led to reflect on futuristic solutions for a regenerative world in the age of Chthulucene, our present age.

Through a wide range of artistic media, the contemporary artists taking part in this first part of the Constellations exhibition in London enriched this ideology, inspired by eco-feminist researcher Donna Haraway, with passion and creativity. The public thus had the opportunity to enjoy a unique experience, woven of multi-species histories and practices in the making, in a context where time remains at stake, where precariousness is omnipresent, and where the world still under construction and the sky still untouched.

“Constellations Part 2: Figures in Webs and Ripples of Space” is a natural extension of the ideas explored in the first part. This exhibition highlights the notion of interdependence and our role in a process of decentralization. As American ecologist and philosopher Timothy Morton argues in his book Ecology without Nature (2009), how can we rethink our relationship to place without becoming too comfortable with nature, often perceived through passive, normative and hierarchical structures imposed by humanity?

“Constellations Part 2” continues the vision of Constellations Part 1 as a platform for experimentation and knowledge-sharing, inviting us to collectively imagine new futures. As a relevant and logical sequel, this exhibition offers a renewed analysis of our understanding of the place of humans in the world. It challenges the viewer to rethink ecology without resorting to essentialist narratives of nature.

This new perspective, which “Constellations Part 2: Figures in Webs and Ripples of Space” invites us to explore, opens a window on the world as a whole, revealing immersive installations specifically designed for the site. It offers an unprecedented look through a West African mythological lens, extending our enduring and interconnected terrestrial history. Radically re-imagining human and non-human habitat thus becomes a vital necessity.

“Constellations Part 2” is a poetic invitation to redefine our relationship with the world. Through works that weave links between the human and the non-human, this exhibition urges us to envision a future where interconnection and empathy become the foundations of our collective existence. By embracing plural narratives and West African myths, it reminds us that every gesture, every voice, contributes to the symphony of our planet. In this way, we are called to dream together of a world where sustainability and diversity intertwine, shaping a rich and vibrant legacy for generations to come.