Adorn - Exhibition By Jacqueline Suowari
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The Artist<br />
<strong>Jacqueline</strong> <strong>Suowari</strong> is an internationally acclaimed multidisciplinary artist, widely known for her large-scale<br />
ballpoint pen drawings, which are the largest in Africa, earning her the title "Queen of the Ballpoint Pen". Her<br />
works, some of which are up to 10 feet wide, take several months & millions of ballpoint pen strokes to<br />
complete. <strong>Suowari</strong> has expanded her creative practice to include sculpture, poetry, performance art, and film,<br />
with her very first short film, "Of Lines and Layers" earning a nomination at the 2022 Africa Magic Viewers'<br />
Choice Awards (AMVCA).<br />
She has exhibited around the world, from Miami to London, New York to Lagos, and most recently, a solo<br />
exhibition in Paris (France), touring to London in October.<br />
She has received several awards, and has been featured by international & local media, including specials from<br />
Forbes Africa and CNN. <strong>Jacqueline</strong> is also dedicated to social impact and youth development. She founded The<br />
Passion for Art Initiative, which has supported over 800 young people to launch their art careers globally. In<br />
2021, she published "<strong>Jacqueline</strong> <strong>Suowari</strong>; A Journey Through Time," a comprehensive overview of her work. Her<br />
art is widely collected & sought-after both locally and internationally.
Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball I
Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball I<br />
Size: 150cm x 184cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
The central figure looks fixedly at the viewer, bearing a sense of dignity, but also curiosity. Elegantly adorned in a dress of Dutch<br />
wax fabric patterns, a traditional Nigerian hairstyle–emblematic of the artist’s heritage–and elbow-length gloves that reference<br />
French haute couture, this portrait is an emotional exploration of cross-cultural influences that implores the viewer to behold the<br />
figure’s personality and story.
Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball II
Memoirs From Kelechi’s Ball II<br />
Size: 150cm x 178cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic & Cloth on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
A graceful woman gazes directly at the viewer with soft and curious eyes. Wearing a dress with a Regency-period neckline and<br />
elbow-length gloves, European fashion styles which play in juxtaposition with traditional Nigerian motifs, patterns, and hairstyles.
The Wind, It Whispers My Name
The Wind, It Whispers My Name<br />
Size: 150cm x 183cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
The central figure sits down in a lush natural environment, taking in the beauty of the world around her. She transmits an<br />
attractive, magnetic aura, her stylish and modern city attire–colourful, vibrantly patterned, elegantly accessorised–contrasting with<br />
the simplicity and pureness of the field in which she is situated. The work speaks to the need for all of us to take a moment to<br />
breathe in the world around us and appreciate the wonder of the natural environments in which we live. But the work also<br />
makes us wonder what the woman is daydreaming about. Could she be newly in love?
If You Forget Me,<br />
Never Forget Paris<br />
SOLD
If You Forget Me, Never Forget Paris<br />
Size: 122cm x 141cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Gold leaf & Cloth on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
A powerful portrait of a stylish young woman sporting a beret with a Chanel-inspired jacket and jewellery. She gazes directly at the<br />
viewer with an air of confidence and mystique, though her eyes are hidden behind sunglasses that belie complex emotions<br />
underneath. The viewer is encouraged to imagine what stories may lie underneath this fashionable exterior. Is the woman feeling a<br />
sense of self-assurance? Judgment? Or might she even be heartbroken?<br />
SOLD
Only The Brave
Only The Brave<br />
Size: 150cm x 157cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
A young and stylish couple, the female figure is the central point of attention, adorned in a velveteen mini dress laden with texture<br />
and ornamentation, with her hair tied up in a fashionable high braided ponytail. The absence of facial features on the male figure<br />
makes it clear that he is not the star of the show, allowing full attention to be focussed upon his partner. Despite this, attention to<br />
detail, such as the rondelles of the Eiffel Tower on his shirt, serve as a symbol that fortifies the cultural and sartorial relationships<br />
between Nigeria and France.
Vanity Room
Vanity Room<br />
Size: 150cm x 148cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic & Cloth on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2023<br />
A reflective still life that allows the viewer to take a peek into the personal lives of <strong>Suowari</strong>’s figures. It is a portrait of the quiet,<br />
unseen moments within the day: the time spent in dedicated preparation before leaving the house, or the respite of unwinding at<br />
the end of the day. Within a minimalist and modern bathroom interior, we see multitudes of references to the artist’s Nigerian<br />
heritage, such as traditional motifs on the wallpaper, Dutch wax fabrics hanging on the wall, and an afro wig.
Braided Bonds
Braided Bonds<br />
Size: 141cm x 160cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
Speaking to the intimate ritual that women pass down of doing one another’s hair. In this piece, two young girls on the cusp of<br />
womanhood sit within an intimate interior environment, adorned in garments that are rich in pattern and texture. One woman<br />
carefully and lovingly arranges the hair of the other (perhaps her friend or sister) in a unique, fashionable style, whilst the second<br />
woman looks upon the viewer, implicating us into this emotional and personal moment.
My Sister’s Keeper
My Sister’s Keeper<br />
Size: 149cm x 150cm<br />
Media: Ballpoint Pen, Ink, Acrylic, Cloth & Gold Leaf on Archival paper<br />
Year: 2024<br />
A richly ornamented and textured mixed-media portrait that conveys the complex relationships between sisters. The faceless<br />
figures seem to look out towards the viewer, and yet their lack of facial features keep us guessing as to the sisters’ emotional<br />
temperament. The title of the work refers to the Biblical reference of Cain and Abel, a story of a complex and fraught relationship<br />
between two brothers that ends in violence. In My Sister’s Keeper, however, love and sorority reigns, depicted through the spatial<br />
closeness of the two sisters in the portrait.
All rights reserved 2024<br />
©londonlighthousegallery<br />
www.londonlighthousegallery.com<br />
With special thanks to<br />
London Lighthouse Gallery & Studio<br />
18 Lyell Street, London City Island, London, E14 0TS
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