I was gripped by the depth and narrative profundity of a series of works on paper by Ugonna Hosten, on view at London gallery Ed Cross Fine Art at 1-54. The Nigerian British artist explores spirituality, mythologies, and pre-colonial histories in these monochromatic works, which I returned to several times as I browsed the fair.
Hosten’s works are the result of direct memories from her dreams—which often include family members—and the artist’s intensive research into pre-colonial Igbo spiritual practices. She creates intricate scenes that are both cinematic and fantastical, bringing in elements from spiritual practices such as cowrie shells, which, according to the artist, “symbolize the dark, unknowable depths and act as psychic conductors in seeking wisdom in those depths.”
