Shifting Perspectives
Artplex Gallery is excited to present Shifting Perspectives, an exhibition that disrupts traditional viewpoints and offers a new way of perceiving the world. This exhibition explores the boundaries of identity, culture, and beauty, encouraging viewers to question what they see, feel, and believe. Through innovative use of color, materials, and conceptual themes, each artist reshapes familiar ideas, inviting us to examine what lies beyond the ordinary.
Giuseppe Beddru, an Italian artist renowned for his unconventional mixed-media techniques, reimagines portraiture through his bold, abstract figures. Rooted in his Sicilian heritage yet transcending cultural boundaries, his works are characterized by the use of luminous colors and translucent layers that bring a dynamic, almost ethereal quality to his subjects. In "Shifting Perspectives," Beddru explores the depths of human identity and the nuances of self-perception. His pieces act as "mirrors" that reflect both the visible and invisible aspects of identity, challenging the viewer to look past surface appearances. By abstracting familiar forms, Beddru questions the assumptions we make about identity, forcing us to reconsider the inherent beauty of individuality.
Reminiscent of the Fauvist movement and Italian classicism, Beddru’s bold outlines, dynamic brushstrokes, and contrasting use of color make his work visually exciting. His work is extremely personal as well, drawing upon the Arab presence on the island where he grew up and his own Italian heritage. His paintings are indicative of self-discovery and emotional awareness, while also focusing on color, composition, and technical skill.
Beddru’s work is exhibited internationally on a regular basis in venues spanning from highly ranked art fairs to museums in both solo and group exhibitions. His artwork is part of international private collections such as the collection of the Saudi Royal Family and businessman Graeme Hart in New Zealand.
Emeka Udemba, a Nigerian-born artist based in Germany, uses multimedia techniques to provoke thought and ignite dialogue around cultural identity, migration, and social issues. His work often incorporates layered materials—such as paint, collage, and found objects—that blend and overlap to symbolize the fragmented and multifaceted nature of human experience. For "Shifting Perspectives," Udemba presents pieces that confront societal norms and the often rigid expectations placed on individuals by cultural narratives. Through his raw, layered works, he addresses themes of dislocation and belonging, suggesting that identity is not static but rather a constantly evolving construct shaped by movement, memory, and experience.
Growing up in Enugu, a city in the eastern part of Nigeria, Udemba’s initial contact with art was watching over his father’s shoulder, a London trained forensic photographer. His father took portraits of his friends who came to their house and covered social events like weddings, birthdays, and funerals for those who asked for his service. Before the advent of color photography in Nigeria, his father would manually color some of these photographs with acrylic artist paint and brush. These creative moments with his father acted as a catalyst for him ultimately decided to study art and art education at the University of Lagos, in Nigeria. After graduating and exhibiting his work in Nigeria, he developed a connection to an art and language residency program in Germany, thus starting his bi-national career.
“My work over the years is influenced by my encounters and experiences of living and working between two distinct worlds/spaces (Africa/Europe). In my practice, I often look to use contemporary art to call attention to social issues as a way to build community and build stronger networks. As an artist of colour, living in the diaspora, I explore the issues of identity, otherness, systemic biases and epistemic colonialism through the juxtaposition of history and the contemporary by appropriating and utilization of materials and forms to connect the past with the present.”
Udemba is a highly accomplished artist, having exhibited in numerous solo and group shows around the world, including the Venice Biennale, Dak'Art Biennale, and Havana Biennale. His works are also part of several private and public collections, such as the National Museum of African Art in Washington D.C., and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, South Africa.
