‘Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm’ - Ugonna Hosten Solo Exhibition

‘Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm’ presents a new body of work by the artist Ugonna Hosten. Through drawing and prints, she chronicles a metaphorical journey and a descent to an underworld. The exhibition seeks to simultaneously encompass dreams, thoughts and constructed myths, whilst also investigating distant realms and the intimate depths within.

In these monochromatic works on paper, the materials are used to signal the artist’s intent to connect to an essential and distilled way of expression.

“Working monochromatically offers me a directness, clarity and a type of continuum. It forces me to think carefully about how a mark, as opposed to a colour, can be used to describe a place or feeling.”

This new collection of charcoal, ink and pencil drawings explores the symbolic resonance of blackening/nigredo – a process in alchemy prior to transformation. Hosten draws from a wide range of sources including mythology, psychology and the spiritual dimension, and is interested in how these worlds converge.

Ugonna Hosten (b. 1982, Lagos, Nigeria), explores the notion of duality (namely earthly and spiritual) as being central to the human experience within her practice. Themes of myth as a form of reality and the unconscious realm are prevalent in her work. Hosten’s route into art was via a BA (Hons) in Criminology; which led to a career in the civil service. Those early explorations into the human mind during her degree remain part of a continuum. Her practice is an evolution of a sort, piecing fragments together and investigating experiences: historically, personally and imagined.

The exhibition will include a free Artist’s Talk on Saturday 18 June, 2:30 pm. All are welcome.