Left: Prince Obasi, Untitled Family #2, acrylic on canvas 1, 2023. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Right: Prince Obasi, Untitled 1, acrylic on canvas 1, 2023. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire— It’s a colorful and bold collective contemporary art show that is being played out at the LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery in Abidjan. The show brings together three contemporary African artists, Théophany Adoh from the Côte d’Ivoire,  Isaac Irumva who hails from Rwanda and Prince Obasi from Nigeria. Each artist brings their own perspective and introspection to the show entitled The Power of Love. The show is a celebration of love, spirituality, emotions and strong eye-catching art works. And offers an insight into the contemporary African art scene. 

Left: Théophany Adoh, Les Amazones du Bitume #3 (The Asphalt Amazons #3), 2023, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Right: Théophany Adoh, Les Amazones du Bitume #5 (The Asphalt Amazons #5), 2023, acrylic on canvas. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

Théophany Adoh, who lives and works in Abidjan in the Côte d’Ivoire, comes from a matriarchal society and his works take a look at the place of women in African societies. He is in the vanguard  of the Braid Art movement, an artistic  movement that seeks to enhance the beautiful from the ugly. Isaac Lirumva who lives and works in Kigali in Rwanda is self-taught and he explores cultural dialogues, identities, characters and memories,  His work reflects the people around him. Meanwhile Prince Obasi who works in Port Harcourt in Nigeria brings together acrylic and charcoal in his unique figurative works. Square eyes with square pupils are a hallmark of the works, drawing the spectator directly into his canvases. 

Left: Isaac Iirumva, Leurs Retrouvailles (Their Reunion), oil on canvas, 2022. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette. Right: Isaac Iirumva, Jardin d’amour (Garden of Love), oil on canvas, 2023. Courtesy LouiSimone Guirandou Gallery. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette