Aplerh-Doku Borlabi

Septieme Gallery Paris is pleased to present In Our Nature, Aplerh-Doku Borlabi's first international solo.

In Our Nature, is a continuation of Aplerh-Doku Borlabi's reflections on home, first presented in his debut solo Shia hiɛ nyam woo: Honouring Home (Gallery 1957, Accra, Ghana 2022).

Hailing from Coco Beach, Nungua, a beach town in the burgeoning art capital, Borlabi's work is very much influenced by his time spent by the Atlantic Ocean; not only a source of inspiration but also where he seeks solace and guidance from his ancestors. Derived from nu ŋma (the smell or essence of water), Nungua serves as a spiritual site for the artist whose signature use of the coconut sheath explores the relationship between humans and Nature.

A collection of intimate close-ups, In Our Nature showcases the natural beauty of the people. Borlabi interacts with within Ghana as a way of further interrogating the unique characteristics that make us we. Rendering their skin with coconut sheath, he captures the various hues of their highly melanated skin and accentuates their defining features illuminated by the sun. Each face, skin with a rich tone of brown, stands out against a muted background allowing the viewer to lean in closer. Upon inspection, the true nature of the individual, crafted from Nature's gift, is revealed.

—Chantel Thompson