Hales is pleased to announce that the Chazen Museum of Art, Madison, WI, USA have acquired Afrique, Afrique, Afrique, 2014, by Senegalese artist Omar Ba. This exciting acquisition marks the first time Ba’s work has entered the collection of a US institution.
Afrique, Afrique, Afrique, 2014, is exemplary of Ba’s expressive and energetic mark making which he combines with ornate decorative elements. In spite of the central character which remains unmoving, Ba’s painting is aswarm with activity, almost coming alive before our eyes. The background bestows a density on the work, contrasting with the brighter colours to explosive effect. His paintings, in fusion of figurative and decorative modes, depict part-real, part-imaginary worlds populated with human and animal beings, organic patterns, geographic and political symbols such as maps and flags – a dizzying array of earthly life. Their material composition is similarly hybrid, mixing masterful use of oil, gouache and crayon and delicately applied china ink.