Feminine Connection 1 2016

Monica Ikegwu made this painting, Feminine Connection 1, in a way that lets you see all the stages of its coming-into-being, like the history of a feeling. There’s a lovely tension in the work between a background pattern, rendered with matte flatness, and the figure in the foreground, which has sheen and a sense of depth. Up close you can see the way the paint has been built up, especially around the figure’s face and the pearl headband. Look at how the black of her hair is brushed in with long, thin strokes. These sit in contrast to the smoothness of her blue lips. Notice too, the bright green which illuminates her neck and is reflected in her lips, an addition which gives the work a surreal feel. I’m reminded of Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, another painter who is interested in portraying Black figures in a way which feels both immediate and timeless. Both artists show us how painting can be a form which embraces ambiguity and multiple perspectives, offering a kind of visual conversation that stretches across time.