Hamburg's Melbye-Konan Gallery presents the fascinating paintings of African art shooting star Ngoye.
Ngoye is one of the most promising talents on the contemporary art scene. His works are characterised by intense expressiveness and are reminiscent of the great masters of abstraction. With his unmistakable, layered compositions, Ngoye creates a dynamic and powerful visual language that casts a spell over the viewer.
Fascinating depth and movement
The art expert Tobias Sirtl, who works for the London auction house Phillips, praises Ngoye's works as vibrant, shimmering abstractions that create a fascinating depth and movement through the use of oil and mixed media. ‘The forms lead the eye restlessly across the surface, so that the viewer is constantly searching for new connotations. His works are unique in their forms, rich in associations and at the same time completely abstract,’ says Sirtl. This restless play with shapes and colours is reminiscent of the dynamic brushstrokes of de Kooning, the poetic lines of Twombly and the powerful yet lyrical painting style of Joan Mitchell, whose works fetch prices of over ten million euros.
Unqiue Signature
Ngoye was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in 1980 and grew up in the vibrant atmosphere of this city, which had a decisive influence on his artistic work. He discovered his passion at an early age, which led him to study art. The inspiration of the abstract expressionists is clearly recognisable in his works. However, Ngoye has developed his own unmistakable signature style. With impressive technique and deep emotional statements, he combines current psychosocial themes such as identity and human existence in his paintings.
Gallery owner Stella Melbye-Konan, who represents Ngoye exclusively, emphasises the uniqueness of his work: ‘Ngoye's works are an extraordinary fusion of technical brilliance and emotional depth. They not only reflect trends in abstract art, but also address contemporary issues that affect our humanity.’
Discovering true identity
Ngoye's works are not only an exploration of form and colour, but also a deep look into the human soul. He himself describes his works as an attempt to uncover the tension between outer appearance and inner state: ‘True identity is often hidden and the mask symbolises this tension. I want to invite the viewer to look behind the façade and explore the emotional layers of my work.’ (Ngoye, 2024)
This profound exploration has already attracted international attention. Works by Ngoye can be found in renowned collections such as that of Harald and Larissa Falckenberg or that of the Benetton family, which emphasises his growing importance in the art world. Collectors and art lovers alike are fascinated by his works and it is clear that Ngoye is well on his way to becoming a central figure in the contemporary art scene.
His works can be seen in the duo exhibition ‘Inside Outside’ together with the German artist Karolin Schwab at the renowned Hamburg gallery Melbye-Konan until 8 November 2024.