Dozie Kanu Champions Sculptural Alchemy in New Milan Show

Instead of striving to surpass limitations, Dozie Kanu opts to disassemble them and observe what remains intact. Operating at the crossroads of fine art, design, and social commentary, Kanu’s work draws inspiration from personal narratives and the burden of our daily lives, transforming into something uniquely different – a blend of relic, provocation, and poetic illusion.

At Federico Vavassori gallery in Milan, Kanu’s latest solo exhibition transforms everyday items such as car rims, chain links, broken ceramics, and other industrial remnants. By doing so, he challenges the notion of value, purpose, and usefulness. These creative adaptations are an extension of his sculptural artistry, a vital component of his ongoing discussion with mass media, popular culture, and inherited stories.

Guided by the spirit of change, this collection of works emerged during a pivotal time in Kanu’s life: “It arose when I needed to summon the courage to keep creating following the passing of my father, who played a significant role in my artistic journey.” This sorrow is palpable in pieces such as “Headboard (chirp if you hear me)“, where an old phone that once belonged to his father is entwined in a web of steel wire, adorned by a bird figurine on its edge. “The creation process was raw, new, and ultimately transformative – and these feelings are embodied within the very objects themselves.

Through music and artwork, Kanu encourages visitors to view exhibition creation as a reflective process. He suggests that the texture of materials, faint scents in the air, the emotional impact of objects, and even the subtlest intangible aspects all contribute to an immersive experience that engages not only our sight, but also our physical being and soul.

As a gamer, I’m all for checking out an exhibit that breaks the daily routine! It’s titled “not opposed to tossing bricks into the quotidian, your honor” and it’s currently showing in Milan until April 30th.

Galleria Federico Vavassori
Via Giorgio Giulini, 5,
20123 Milano MI, Italy

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