One Man’s Trash (Is Another Man’s Treasure)

September 11, 2014

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From October 6 to 28, selected works from the Danjuma Collection will be presented for the first time at 33 Fitzroy Square, to coincide with the 12th edition of Frieze London.

The exhibition references the use of found, often discarded material, as well as the act of collecting and collections more generally.

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure is curated by Joost Bosland and revolves around two themes; the use of found materials by contemporary artists and a focus on contemporary art from Africa.

Works that are crafted from found material feature prominently in the exhibition and collection. These works are employed to discuss issues that affect our daily lives, including the current global struggles connected with reprocessing or modern consumer culture and materialism. Artists like Matias Faldbakken, Gedi Sibony and Danh Vo are notable in this respect.

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The second theme of the exhibition focusing on contemporary art from Africa includes artists such as Ernest Mancoba, Julie Mehretu, Emeka Ogboh, Dineo Bopape and Nicholas Hlobo. In an interview shortly before his death in 2002, the South African painter, Ernest Mancoba objected to the artificial distinction between abstraction and figuration questioning “whether the form can bring to life and transmit, with the strongest effect and by the lightest means possible, the being, which has been in me and aspires to expression.” The exhibition will include works that echo Mancoba’s intention, and are marked by simplicity of gesture and lightness of touch.

Established in 2008 by the young London-based collector, Theo Danjuma, the Danjuma Collection includes over 400 works of art by emerging and established artists from around the world. At the heart of the collection lies a belief in contemporary art as a global, cross-generational conversation. The collection supports emerging artists from across the globe, with a particular focus on African contemporary art.

Fitzroy Square was commissioned by the Duke of Grafton in the 18th century, and designed by Robert Adam, a leading architect at the time. Significantly, well-known art critic Roger Fry used Number 33, on the southwest corner of the square for his Omega Workshop from 1913 – 1919, during which many members of the artistic wing of the Bloomsbury Group worked in the house.

Oliver Enwonwu

Oliver Enwonwu is founder and Editor-in-Chief of Omenka magazine, Director, Omenka Gallery and Chief Executive, Revilo. He holds a first degree in Biochemistry, advanced diploma in Exploration Geophysics (distinction), Post Graduate Diplomas in Applied Geophysics and Visual Art (distinction) and a Masters in Art History, all from the University of Lagos. He is the founder, Executive Director, and trustee of The Ben Enwonwu Foundation. He also sits on the board of several organizations including the National Gallery of Art, Nigeria and the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria. Enwonwu is also president of both the Society of Nigerian Artists and the Alliance of Nigerian Art Galleries.