On the evening of the 29th of November, a few classmates from my Drawing/Imaging course met up at The Drawing Center down on Wooster. There, they showcased the exhibition For Opacity. The beautiful, pastel, curated space highlighted the works of Elijah Burgher, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Nathaniel Mary Quinn. All of whom inquire the idea of identities through portraits, which they all seem to portray through the medium of drawings and paintings.
I was particularly drawn to Toyin Ojih Odutola’s portion of the exhibition. Her use of colours, patterns, and subject matter are so well done, and it amazes me how powerful her individual strokes with the media are. I loved the colour scheme of each individual piece, it’s soft and light and playful, and contrasts with the darkness of skin colour, yet blends with the warm of the skin tone. I particularly loved the painting featured in the last photo I attached below. Another provocative part of the physical space was in one corner of the room, she had done a series of portraits of white men with dark hue, in opposition to a single large piece of a white woman done in white hue.
The next artist, who was completely new to me, and I adored his work as well, was by Elijah Burgher. His series of soft, masculine figures, in dynamic with his staple geometric patterns were so illustrative and cohesive to one another. I’m always so amazed and inspired by people who can take such accessible and common forms of media and master and utilize it in a way that is exceptional to every else. His portraits were done primarily, and if not, exclusively with coloured pencils and the way it looks so solid and smooth, with everything going with the flow of the grain is such a good indication of mastery with craft.
