Cécile Fakhoury Gallery in Dakar is delighted to welcome Ghanaian artist Na Chainkua Reindorf to its space for an artistic presentation on the borderline between myth and reality. Until August 24, the Dakar public is invited to plunge into the spellbinding universe of “Strange Flesh”, a chimerical exhibition revealing fascinating mythical characters through the unique eyes of this African artist.
A highly talented multidisciplinary artist, Na Chainkua Reindorf uses her art to build a dreamlike world where creativity, fantasy and legends blend harmoniously. In her fertile imagination, she invents a fictitious society of female masqueraders, evoking a burlesque universe populated by female characters both divine and bewitching. Inspired by her personal experiences and drawing on West African folklore and religious cosmologies, the Ghanaian artist seeks to provoke reflection through which appearances and shifting identities can be explored to highlight deviance and non-conformity.
Her creations are in line with the predominantly male traditions of artistic practice in West Africa, offering an innovative and captivating perspective. Within this masculine context, Na Chainkua Reindorf proposes a feminine reinterpretation of her own traditions through her ongoing series entitled Mawu Nyonu (2020- today). The title of this series is the name the artist has given to a fictitious secret society she has created on her canvases, meaning “God is a woman” in the Ewe language of Ghana. This imaginary secret society, inspired by Voodoo cosmology and made up of seven female characters called the Glanu, or “skins”, is a fascinating exploration of femininity and divinity in an artistic context.
The mythical characters created by Na Chainkua Reindorf possess transformative personal powers for those who embody them. Through paintings in soft, bewitching hues, tapestries with striking aesthetics and original sculptural installations, the African artist conveys her singular vision of her imaginary world to viewers.
The Ghanaian artist’s “Strange Flesh” exhibition at Dakar’s Cécile Fakhoury gallery plunges visitors into an intoxicating universe where women are elevated to the rank of divinities. Within this series of exhibited works, she has chosen to highlight one of the seven mythical characters, Peli, a symbolic figure of seduction. On Na Chainkua Reindorf’s canvases, the mythological figure is depicted with a charm that is both frightening and captivating, holding other subjugated characters in thrall.
By exploring masquerade as a performative ritual of creation, the artist offers an innovative social space where original, non-conformist identities can flourish. In “Strange Flesh”, embodying the traits of Peli, the women she portrays come to life in a masquerade where powerful female figures regain control of their bodies and narratives, celebrating free self-expression.
A graduate of Cornell University of the Fine Arts, Na Chainkua Reindorf has already won over many audiences with her unique and spellbinding works. She has exhibited in various institutions in Africa, North America and Europe. In 2022, she was one of three artists representing the Ghana National Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Na Chankua Reindorf stands out for her innovative artistic approach and her ability to bring powerful mythical figures to life in fascinating works. Through exhibitions such as “Strange Flesh”, she explores masquerade as a creative ritual enabling women to regain control of their narrative and celebrate free self-expression. Her impressive artistic career and her presence in renowned institutions testify to her talent and unique vision of femininity and divinity.
