“Wildest Dreams” by artist Zeinab Diomande runs until November 12.
As a city , Philadelphia has a approximately 40 percent universe of resident who place as Black and/or of African ancestry , and has long been a unique hub of calamitous artistic production , euphony , storytelling and creativity . Ranging from outdoor murals to the decided sounds of aboriginal musician like Jazmine Sullivan , Santigold , and Meek Mill , local opprobrious visual art has also recently been on therise — and further highlights Philly as a mecca for issue gift .
On Friday , September 15 , “ Wildest Dreams , ” the solo exhibition of 24 - year - old Ivorian American artistZeinab Diomande , debuts atMagic Gardens , one of Philly ’s best - known landmark , which make a labyrinthian mosaic garden and an indoor gallery quad on South Street .
Visitors enter the front gallery in Magic Gardens will happen themselves immersed in vivid painting against bright yellow walls before experiencing a sudden vibe switch as they cross the threshold into the little back gallery , which has a “ nighttime starry atmosphere ” , according to Chelsey Luster , the Exhibitions Manager at Magic Gardens who curated the expo .
”Wildest Dreams” exhibit by artist Zeinab Diomande|Design by Manali Doshi for Thrillist | Images courtesy Zeinab Diomande
Showcasing surrealist ego - portraits that glow with ethereal colors and drawing spectator into an almost psychedelic fantasy , Diomande ’s work spotlight Black women in states of leisure and relaxation without the strain and press of laboring for others .
“ dim adult female for the most part are always in motion , always asked to do thing , to be the savior and fix things , ” says Diomande , who was born in Virginia in 1999 and lived on the Ivory Coast for most of her living , before study at the University of the Arts in Center City .
“ And I feel like the simple-minded act of staying still is almost accept that power back : ‘ Like okay . I do n’t need to be on the go 24/7 , I do n’t need to heal others . I demand to mend myself first , and that ’s hunky-dory . ’ ”
The figures in Diomande ’s paintings are in repose , standing still , or mildly close their eyes , and the bright kaleidoscopical colors have an overall soothing core on viewers . While grappling with her individuality crisis as an immigrant and the wider dehumanisation that Black cleaning woman are generally forced to confront , the ingredient of fantasy in Diomande ’s painting seeks to restore a mother wit of lost innocence through imagination and escape .
“ I feel like contraband children always have their whiteness strip away from them , and I think I ’m trying to give my inner child back the innocence she did n’t fully have , ” says Diomande , adding that her artwork is also a personal summons of therapeutic healing for her .
“ Wildest Dreams ” will be on view atMagic Gardensuntil November 12 . The initiative receipt on Friday , September 15 , is pay - as - you - wish . On Tuesday , September 19,Talk & Tour with Zeinab Diomandeincludes a behind - the - scenes tour and Q&A with the creative person for $ 15 per tag .
