Some things transcend cultural boundaries and difference. One is art, another is the love of a granny for her grandson. When writer Lindsay Bruce stopped by Aberdeen Music Hall’s latest exhibition – The Diaspora Everyday – she got more than she bargained for.
Instead of a private tour of eight striking portraits and an interview with Silver City artist Joshua Ekekwe, she was given a front-row seat to the RGU graduate introducing his 79-year-old Nigerian grandmother to his art, for the very first time. Everyday moments celebrated Former architecture student Joshua Ekekwe is infectious. His beaming smile combined with an extraordinary talent for recreating still-life imagery saw him become Rise Up! Festival’s first exhibition artist.
Funded by Aberdeen City Council’s creative pilot scheme Joshua, who works as a graphic designer, successfully pitched to create a series of artworks depicting the everyday lives of people of various diasporas but living in Aberdeen. Tea ceremonies, hair being braided and shopping for food are some of the activities recreated in his portraits, all pointing to the day-to-day, even mundane, activities that help communities unite and feel at home, away from home. Printed postcards of the paintings are also available so visitors of the exhibit can write their own letters home.
But for Joshua, no such postcard is needed. Winning the approval of his family Supported by his parents, his twin sister Hannah and younger sister Juanita, he had the op.