Kampala exhibition reclaims Afro hair as 'living archive'

Absa has announced the highly anticipated solo exhibition of its 2023 Ambassador, Eric Joe Gayi, titled Breaking the Norm. 

Hosted in collaboration with Amasaka Gallery at The Summit Residences in Naguru, Kampala, the show is a visual exploration that reclaims Afro hair as a potent symbol of identity, self-determination, and collective memory. 

Through intricate ballpoint pen drawings, Gayi navigates the challenging intersections of personal expression and societal control, specifically targeting deeply rooted biases within colonial and Eurocentric frameworks. 

The artist asserts that for people of African descent, "Hair... has always been more than a matter of style; it is a living archive of identity, resistance, and cultural pride.”

Gayi’s technique involves creating intricately rendered figures in blue and black, a slow, meditative process that took weeks for each piece and mirrors the internal negotiations of identity. 

The art focuses on the divided self through symbolism: the blue figures embody conformity, representing those who feel compelled to alter their natural hair for societal acceptance and opportunity. In stark contrast, the black figures—whose faces are surrealistically embedded with honeycomb textures—represent authenticity and resilience, unapologetically confronting the discomfort society often projects onto natural Black hair. 

This powerful work was "born from both reverence for my heritage and painful experiences of discrimination," Gayi stated.

The exhibition reaffirms the commitment of the Absa L’Atelier programme to fostering African art development. 

Dr Paul Bayliss, Absa Senior Specialist: Art and Museum Curator, lauded Gayi’s work as "bold, deeply reflective, and unapologetically African," embodying the L’Atelier’s spirit that every artist’s voice deserves to be seen and heard. 

Collin Sekajugo, Director of Amasaka Gallery, emphasised the partnership’s goal to boost creativity among Ugandan artists, encouraging them to create work that is "globally relevant and socially resonant." 

As the 39-year-old L'Atelier programme continues, Absa maintains its belief in the power of African art to inspire change and shape the continent’s creative economy.