Motunrayo Akinola, Hyssop, 2024

The South London Gallery’s 13th Postgraduate Artist in Residence, Motunrayo Akinola, presents Knees Kiss Ground, an exhibition exploring faith and belonging through everyday objects.  

The show features new work made during Akinola’s six-month residency. He draws upon his architectural background to examine ideas around space, comfort, nostalgia,  ownership and post-colonial power dynamics. 

Through installation, light and sculpture, he explores how different materials can trigger emotions and memories. Visitors can enter an immersive installation constructed entirely from corrugated cardboard to replicate the exact dimensions of a shipping container.  

Symbols and materials drawn from the Old Testament such as the hyssop plant, help to understand the work, as we try to make sense of surroundings and the cultural gaps in our knowledge. 

The artist will present a new participatory performance on 31 May. 

About Motunrayo Akinola

Motunrayo Akinola is a London-based artist who uses images of the home and everyday materials to explore comfort and belonging. He creates sculptures, installations, sound and drawings. He studied at RA Schools, graduating in 2023. As a British-born Nigerian who has spent time in and now feels comfortable in both countries, Akinola’s work exposes the nuanced differences between the two places.

Opening Hours

Tues - Sun, 11am - 6pm

Location:

South London Gallery Fire Station, 82 Peckham Rd, SE15 5LQ

Text and pictures, copyright south london gallery and the artists