WHATIFTHEWORLD is pleased to present a selection of new works by contemporary African artists: Chris Soal, Lyndi Sales, Ben Orkin, Stephané Edith Conradie, and Lakin Ogunbanwo.

Delving into the textures and themes of love, time, and identity, this presentation not only resists the simplistic categorisation of these artists as ‘either-or’, ‘sculptor or visual activist’ but also provides insight into the interconnectedness of existence, as rooted in diverse materials that bear significant cultural and emotional resonance. Whether one is drawn to contemplate the fragile balance of life and death or the vulnerable spaces that birth our collective and individual identities, we must inquire into the bonds that foster such powerful connections. The layers within and around relationships beg to be unpacked.

At the individual layer, we find the power of self-reflection and its product: meditative expanse, as explored in the work of Lakin Ogunbanwo. Robert Rauschenberg’s belief that a final work is certainly “the result of more than one person’s doing” presents itself in not just the final products of laborious artistic processes, but also in the emotional labour of acknowledging what it takes to ‘identify self’. Lakin Ogunbanwo’s striking portraits draw attention to the balance between silhouette – the shadow self, and the influence of African studio photography in expanding the contemporary African visual archive. Shifting to the organic creations of Ben Orkin, Chris Soal, and Lyndi Sales, one is met with a distinct sense of tactility and physicality. Orkin’s ceramics not only reflect the nourishment and care poured into his vessels but also express the emotional layers of queer intimacy.

The textured surfaces and hollowed interiors embody a unique tension between connection and separation. Chris Soal’s intuitive toothpick sculptures serve as social abstractions, transforming mundane ephemera into works that challenge one’s spatial awareness and societal assumptions about value. In contrast, Lyndi Sales merges the metaphysical with the organic; drawing inspiration from natural structures such as cross-sections seen in plants to create intricate installations. Sales’ consideration for non-linear and cyclical time, as well as the visual metaphors pictured in her colourful circular weavings, showcase the potency of nature to provide us with maps into the history of life and death.

Finally, there exist generational and historical forms of connection that bind us to not only the reality of our lineage and lived experience but also to the shared cultural memories that unite us. Broader histories of displacement, colonisation, and identity continue to shape the way we connect and this can be seen in the work of Stephané Edith Conradie. Conradie critically engages with the notions of material culture, as shared among the histories of colonisation and creolisation. Her ornate assemblages are inspired by everyday objects and household items that resonate with many working-class families in South Africa, and which exist in a space of familiarity and alienation. This selection of works not only invites viewers to engage with the personal and cultural narratives of each artist but also offers a profound dialogue around the intricate bonds that shape our shared human experience in the contemporary era.

Selected artworks on display at Booth A28.

For artwork enquiries, please contact Eleonora Marforio at eleonora@whatiftheworld.com.