LA-based conceptual artist, Awol Erizku has unveiled Quaquaversal, his latest exhibition with Ben Brown Fine Arts. Building on Erizku’s ongoing engagement with Hong Kong, this bold showcase comprises paintings, neon installations as well as a newly unveiled series of bronze sculptures. The pieces expand on the artist’s dialogues on materiality, symbolism and cultural intervention while celebrating the African diasporic identity.
In this exhibition, the artist deconstructs and reconstructs cultural motifs from music, popular culture and sports, creating nuanced narratives that favor Afrocentric perspectives. A standout feature is the series of five bronze sculptures depicting Egyptian Queen Nefertiti fused with various objects, reflecting ongoing debates about cultural sovereignty and the contested ownership of Nefertiti’s image.
The paintings in Quaquaversal explore “Street Hieroglyphics” and corporate logos, oscillating between mechanical precision and human gesture. With vibrant colors and industrial-grade materials, Erizku critiques the political and social undertones of these symbols.
Additionally, the neon installations like “The New World is Yours (2024),” pulse with cultural resonance, transforming commercial symbols into powerful tools for dialogue about agency and fate. Through these works, Erizku challenges art history canons and cultural ownership, reframing discussions around identity, heritage and power in a globalized world.
Awol Erizku’s Quaquaversal will remain on view at Ben Brown Fine Arts Hong Kong until January 25, 2025.
Ben Brown Fine Arts Hong Kong
201, The Factory, 1 Yip Fat St,
Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong
