Adama Delphine Fawundu is committed to amplifying overlooked histories and rearticulating representations of the past to encourage inclusive forms of knowledge production. As a multidisciplinary artist, Delphine taps into material cultures that constitute several overlapping diasporas across the globe. Delphine and I recently discussed her work on view in the exhibition ELEMENTAL at Ortega y Gasset Projects, but we initially met in 2017. I visited her studio and was immediately drawn in by her ability to translate complex concepts across multiple mediums including photography, video, and textiles. From cotton to copper, she is keenly aware of the historical significance of the materials she shapes into assemblage pieces such as the hanging tapestries that make up the Hymns and Parables (2022) series featured in ELEMENTAL. Curator Leeza Meksin describes the exhibition as interrogating themes of spiritualism, dispossession, and healing—all of which are key areas of exploration in Delphine’s practice.
—Charmaine Branch
