Thom Ogonga Accept and Move On Exhibition

Thom Ogonga Accept & Move On | It Is What It Is Exhibition

One Off is pleased to present

Thom Ogonga
Accept & Move On | It Is What It Is

Exhibition opens Saturday 24 September 2022
noon to 4pm

Exhibition Run:
Saturday 24 September through 23 October 2022

Gallery open:
Tuesday through Saturday, from 9am - 5.30pm
Sunday, from noon - 5:30pm

'Ebb and Flow', Peterson Kamwathi Exhibition Invitation

Accept & Move On | It Is What It Is

This is a body of work created during an anxious period where global normalcy had been disrupted by the Covid – 19 pandemic, and there was heightened apprehension fueled by a lengthy and divisive campaign period that preceded the hotly contested general election locally.

The feeling was that while the happenings on the world stage were beyond human control, the chaos witnessed locally was unnecessary and had to pass fast so that we’d be able to resume our colourful lifestyles. The statements ‘accept & move on’ and ‘it is what it is’ were constantly used by supporters of the two main candidates either as a boastful way of declaring victory, or a resigned way of accepting defeat and have been appropriated by the artist to describe this body of work which can easily be condensed into the general mood of those around him on the day of the Supreme Court verdict. Jubilation and melancholy.

The conversation plugs into the artist’s general subjects of interest and marks the first time in more than a decade that he has created an extensive collection of work exclusively using paint as the medium.

Artist Statement

Born, bred, schooled, living and working in the city, I am interested in the daily happenings of the space I live in and even more fascinated by the nocturnal activities. All the things that colour the night; bar brawls, disco scenes, gambling, prostitution etc. excite the artist in me and feature prominently in my artistic practice.

My work is very figurative and representative of a “typical night out in the city” and is most often a satirical view of our hypocritical culture of being “responsible citizens” during the day and the total opposite when the sun goes down.

I am also interested in identity and socio-political narratives and interrogation as sub themes of my work through an individual project basis. These, are mainly influenced by the political situation in my country; bad governance, cronyism, corruption and our lack of a clear identity as a result of being Africans strongly influenced by colonization, religion, Western education and global consumerism.

Alongside my studio practice, I am also an independent curator interested in documenting the Kenyan Contemporary art scene through critical writing. My texts have featured in reputable publications globally; I self-publish on my personal blog - www.thealternativewriter.com; and I am also the founder/creative director of Nairobi Contemporary – a critical artist led platform commentating and contributing to the discourse of the regional art scene.

Ogonga Thom, Nairobi – 2022

Preview of Works

Click thumbnail to enlarge and scroll through all images

Thom Ogonga – Ma Meilleure Chemise, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 150h x 120w cm - Kshs 400,000

Thom Ogonga – 1948 Hrs, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 148h x 118w cm - Kshs 400,000

Thom Ogonga – 2320 Hrs, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 148h x 118w cm - Kshs 400,000

Thom Ogonga – Untitled I, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 104h x 89w cm - Kshs 300,000

Thom Ogonga – 1759 Hrs, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 99h x 79w cm - Kshs 300,000

Thom Ogonga – 0355 Hrs, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 109h x 84w cm - Kshs 300,000

Thom Ogonga – Elekta, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 104h x 89w cm - Kshs 300,000

Thom Ogonga – Si Je Savais Ca, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 147h x 122w cm - Kshs 400,000

Thom Ogonga – C'est Comme Ca La Vie, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 122h x 148w cm - Kshs 400,000

Thom Ogonga – Mayoo! Gi Kao, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 50h x 50w cm - Kshs 50,000

Thom Ogonga – Ghai! Ní Twahotana?, 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 50h x 50w cm - Kshs 50,000

Thom Ogonga – Maselina (diptych), 2022 – Acrylic and charcoal on canvas – 99h x 158w cm - Kshs 400,000

More on Thom Ogonga

Exhibition openings are usually on the last Saturday of every month, excluding December. The gallery remains open on Sundays allowing anyone who missed the opening to catch the exhibition the next day. Do join our mailing list so we can send you an invitation.