Unmasked | Philipo Dyauli

An exhibition a year in the making. Experience a colorful story of merging cultures, heritage, and identity. 

Wearing a mask can represent a temporary shift in identity – a transition between different states of being. A mask can also be used as a form of protection, shielding ourselves from perceived threats or vulnerabilities. This exhibition embodies that journey of understanding the self, including the transformations of our identities that occur over time. The theme is inspired by handcrafted masks reflecting the creativity, beauty, and cultural heritage of the artist’s people. Philipo’s intent is to bring together a story of connection through shared cultures, heritage and embrace one’s own narrative and identity journey.

The Artist: Philipo Dyauli

Philipo Dyauli (b. 1992) is a self-taught artist that embraces scale in a fearless way. His paintings and murals use bold color palettes to capture the joys of everyday life, specifically elevating the representation of Black and Brown people and their lived experiences. Dyauli also transforms his personal experiences into life-size paintings to create a unique form of visual storytelling. Living in Tanzania, Dyauli was surrounded by diverse cultures and traditions that have shaped his work overtime. He draws inspiration from colors and imagery natural to the communities he grew up in. He also uses color as a form of language by giving life and shining a light on the stories and experiences of past and present. As a black artist he believes art created with intention can be a powerful method to foster bonds in a community and for people to see themselves in the artwork. Dyauli is a part of the Public Functionary Studio Program for emerging artists, which launched in 2019 with the purpose to empower young artists with tools and knowledge to grow their practice + community.

The Curator: nouf saleh

i am an artist, cultural worker, curator and art administrator. My practice is a place for me to work through familial and societal expectations and to speculate and research identity, time, collective memory, secrets, absence and change.

RSVP HERE