The exhibition by artist and photographer Heather Agyepong at the Doyle Wham gallery in London immerses us in her inner self in order to explore the archetype of the shadow according to the analytical psychology of Carl Gustav Jung.
Since 2009, this British Ghanaian photographer, performer, actress, and artist has explored themes of mental health, well-being, invisibility, diaspora, and archives in her work. With the exhibition "Through Motion," unveiled at the Doyle Wham gallery in London, Heather Agyepong revisits the last three years of her multidisciplinary practice in two works.
The first is a unique video performance, The Body RemembersCentered on the principles of self-directed movement therapy—the principle being to move one's body without choreography in front of an audience—and accompanied by interviews with Black British women recovering from trauma, this contextualization of her own healing process represents the starting point for her compelling photographic series. EgoDeath.
Between shadow and light
This second work, presented at the gallery, continues to explore the body as an archive. Ego Death invites us to an introspection of the artist's inner struggles, examining the notion of "shadow" according to the personality theories of Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961).
The Swiss psychiatrist defines it as "something inferior, primitive, maladjusted, and unfortunate, but not absolutely bad," and reminds us that "there is no light without shadow." Heather Agyepong thus undertook a long personal project of writing and painting to capture seven self-portraits that embody each aspect of her shadow through movement.
“Exhibiting these two bodies of work side by side for the first time is an opportunity to reflect on and revisit, in particular, the therapeutic role that movement plays in my work. […] The act of looking back, as well as inward, is both vital and necessary for moving forward.”she explains.
Inspiration from cinema
For this series, Heather Agyepong drew inspiration from cinema, particularly from Moonlight Barry Jenkins' blue color palette, and characters from Get Out by Jordan Peele. By her own admission, this is the first time she has incorporated elements of popular culture into her visual creative process. This work is both "a tribute to the impact these works have had on her psyche and a testament to the increasingly holistic nature of her artistic practice."
And it's hardly surprising. For fifteen years, this virtuoso, nominated for the Prix Pictet and the Foam Paul Huf three times, has been constantly expanding her scope as an actress on television, in film, in theatre and on streaming platforms like Netflix.
Her works, imbued with symbolism, continue to challenge the limits of self, consolidating her place in contemporary thought, in a personal and universal way.
"Through Motion"
Doyle Wham Gallery
91a Rivington Street, London (England)
Until March 22, 2025
