#davidalabo

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DAVID ALABO

“Most people are drawn to faces in an image so to remove that familiar focus point is to allow other elements in my work to take the foreground. 

Isolation is another theme that I’ve often explored in my works. There is a certain peaceful bliss that one can achieve in total solitude and in the desolate landscapes that surround my subjects.”

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AS ABOVE SO BELOW: David Alabo + Solitary Reflection

For a few days, I’ve returned to this digital mixed-media illustration by Ghanian-Moroccan artist, David Alabo. His more recent work centers heavily on 3 dimensional illustrations. Depicting surreal forms almost like concept models. But in this illustration, the artist appears to have taken a break from that. Likely the illustration is older and perhaps too similar to that of other artists. Still, despite the familiar aesthetic, this image feels especially striking to me.

Beyond the spicy color palette (rooted in Ghanian inspiration) and bold contrast, the scene itself is intriguing. At home with a language of tarot symbology even. Alabo has recently collaborated with clothing brand, Daily Paper on a 2020 capsule collection that re-imagines tarot cards, so the artist is no doubt acquainted. His taste for imagery would pair nicely with the dream-interpretative quality of tarot divination.

In this illustration above: a miner is at the edge of some kind of salt flat—In what could be a moon desert or other planet, at night or in absence of an earth-like atmosphere (though there are, what appear to be clouds). The “salt” the miner forks through looks identical in texture to the clouds that sweep over behind the dune. The shape of a face rests in the clouds—Forming a connection between the task and the thoughts of the miner perhaps. 

Salt flats often have that reflective quality of blurring ground and sky (look up the Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia for beautiful examples). And while Alabo’s illustration might not be depicting salt, there is still this relationship between mineral (or substance) and cloud. As well as the miner and the face in the cloud, looking at opposite directions, to the world (micro) and heavens (macro) respectively. 

“There is a certain peaceful bliss that one can achieve in total solitude and in the desolate landscapes that surround my subjects.” Alabo says in his artist statement. A constant theme in his work is isolation, which is probably why it attracts my attention. 

In this image the neighboring worlds above, three other planets (or moons), of the same hue, have an alone-together quality to me. Without knowing any further detail about this crowded star system, we’re zoned in to one specific close up. It feels important and profound and as those moments where we contemplate decisions that can ultimately shape entire worlds are, it could just as likely be a quiet moment of present bliss, contention and gratitude. 

Check out more of David’s work on his website or follow his Instagram

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David Alabo #davidalabo @davidalabo . Hopper Prize Grant Finalist . . . . . #hopperprize #thehopperprize #studioart #conceptualart #workingartist #artexhibit #sculpture #opencall #studioartist #figurativeartist #abstract_art #abstractpainter #abstractartists #abstractartwork #artecontemporáneo ​#contemporaryartist #contemporaryart​ ​#emergingartist​ ​#emergingart​ ​#oiloncanvas​ ​#abstractart https://www.instagram.com/p/B2M6h2pFP4s/?igshid=2koxtuac9rww