MITOCHONDRIA GALLERY
Nedia Were : Fragments of Perceptions
Friday, May 6th, 5:00pm to 8:00pm.
Public Viewing : May 6th -June 3rd.
Address: 220 Commerce Street, Houston, TX 77002.
“Fragments of Perceptions” is a response and challenge to the things we perceive, the resultant judgments and decisions we make based on what we perceive. In this exhibition, Nedia Were explores the ideas and perceptions that we have about other people’s individuality and the societies perception(s) about our own individuality.
Matters that seem true and universal are often just our own unique experience of the world. To achieve a better understanding of ourselves and our fellow human beings, we need to appreciate the startling individuality of everyone’s experience.
Perception acts as a lens through which we view reality. Our perceptions influence how we focus, process, remember, interpret, understand, synthesize, decide, and act on reality. In doing so, our tendency is to assume that how we perceive reality is an accurate representation of what reality truly is.
Exhibited Works
Artist Statement
As an image-maker, conversation starter, and storyteller, I contribute to the images, messages, and perceptions that circulate within our society and culture. These figures and messages have tremendous power. They have the power to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of our collective society today and for generations to come. They have the power to make people see and recognize the humanity in others, or the power to objectify and dehumanize others. They have the power to make people feel fearful of others, or the power to make them feel safe. They have the power to make people feel beautiful or ugly, seen or unseen, accepted or ostracized, revered or reviled. They have the power to celebrate our vulnerabilities, flaws, and imperfections, or to lull us into the false comfort and unattainable pursuit of perfectly curated, beautifully crafted lives and feeds. Most importantly, the words and images we create and choose to circulate create powerful mental associations that define how we perceive each other and the world around us.
In this body of work that I am presenting, there are no titles to the work. I want to give my audience a chance to create and come up with there own perceptions and stories about each piece without being influenced by my own ideas about the subjects. I want to give them an experience of naming each piece as they see it.
About Nedia Were
Nedia Were is a self-taught contemporary visual artist, who was born and raised in Kenya, he currently resides in Nairobi. His initial passion for art was cultivated during his childhood, where he started drawing characters he observed in cartoons, comic books, and newspapers. As a teenager Nedia continued to pursue art as a Signwriter, where he developed his own style of Signwriting.
A major inspiration in Nedia Were’s style of painting was influenced by his grandfather’s love of reading newspapers. Nedia was intrigued by reading the events and topics covered in these papers, he found a deep connection with the events reported in the news. Nedia continuously felt an urge be part of the solution for social and environmental issues and provide additional outlets as a voice for the disenfranchised in the society. In reaction to these feelings, Nedia decided to create art that promotes internal and external dialogue on societal shortcomings.
Nedia Were has participated in over 27 exhibitions since 2015. Since his successful debut of the “Mumwamu” series at Mitochondria Gallery as part of the Duo exhibition “The Line between” in the fall of 2021.
Nedia Were is coming of his first museum show “4000 ans of African art” at the Wall house museum, in St. Barths. He is also scheduled to be in a museum group exhibition in the fall in Asia. Nedia’s work is part of the permanent collection at the New Museum, Berlin. His works can be found in private and public collections in Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.
His debut Solo exhibition “Fragments of Perceptions” opens on May 6th 2022 at Mitochondria gallery.
Select Exhibitions
2022. Fragments of Perceptions. Mitochondria Gallery. Houston, TX.
2022. “4000 ANS”. Wall House Museum. Saint Barthelemy.
2022. Sotheby’s. CCA Lagos Benefit Auction.
2021. FNB Joburg 2021. Eclectica Contemporary.
2021. Black Excelence. Ross-Sutton Gallery. Miami, Florida.
2021. The Line Between. Mitochondria gallery. Houston. TX.
2021. Manjano Art Competion, Alliance Francaese.
2021. Group Exhibition Little Art Gallery, Nairobi Kenya.
2020. Group Exhibition Little Art Gallery, Nairobi Kenya.
2020. Manjano Art Competion, Village Market.
2020. Bookbunk Art Auction Nairobi Kenya.
2019. Group Exhition at international schools of Kenya(ISK).
2019. Affordable Art Show, Nairobi National Museums of Kenya.
2019. Group Exhibition , Karen Country Club.
2019. (Essence of time)Jimmy Kitheka and Nedia were , Nairobi National Museums of Kenya.
2019. Group Exhibition Arusha Cultural Heritage Arusha Tanzani.
2018. Mentorship Art Program Dust Depo by Partrick Mukabi.
2018. Safaricom Art Competition,Nairobi Kenya.
2018. Group Exhibiton at Mckinsey Mtaani Exhibition.
2018. Group Exhition at international schools of Kenya(ISk).
2018. Affordable Art Show, Nairobi National Museums of Kenya.
2017. Manjano Art competition Village Market.
2017. Kenya Art Fair Sarit Centre.
2017. Group Exhibition Karen Country club.
2017. Affordable Art Show, Nairobi National Museums of Kenya.
2016. Affordable Art Show, Nairobi National Museums of Kenya.
2016. Group Exhibition Karen Country club.
2015. Group Exhibition Karen Country club.