WOAW Gallery is pleased to present We Just Got to See Us, an exhibition of new work by American artist Auudi Dorsey, at the gallery’s Wan Chai, Hong Kong location. Featuring 11 artworks, the exhibition explores experiences of African American in the southern region with quotidian scenes through a contemporary lens. The exhibition will run from June 15 to July 22, 2023, which also celebrates the artist's first solo showing in Hong Kong.
No matter the space, place or time, the Black community has endure a vast amount of exportation through the capabilities. Dorsey captures moments from the past and present, drawing from personal experiences to depict the community's struggles and triumphs. As a native of black neighbourhoods in the southern region, the artist draws inspiration from daily life that have shaped his identity and heritage, evoking a sense of pride in his work. The exhibition invites visitors to step into a world that celebrates the Black community's resilience and spirit.
This new series of work is a testament to the importance of community and its role in shaping the lives of the Black community in the southern region. The figures in the artworks are fully present and at the forefront of the subject matter, with often-seen objects in Dorsey's works – white tees, cars and cigarettes. The artist's colour palette is primarily composed of earthy tones that complement the rich hues of black skin. In contrast, the white background in some of the works represents the absence of community that once existed, leaving people to either migrate or be viewed as intruders in their own community.
“Being able to express any kind of emotion with a contemporary context allows me to engage in environmental, social and the political climate of black folks in the southern region. Moments in the past and present are depicted in these bodies of work and some from personal experiences. I want the people of my community to be seen and honor because people is what keeps community together.” the artist says.
Auudi Dorsey (b.1992) work comes from within and comes from perspective. Figures seen in the artist work are inspired by the day-to-day people and circumstances that exist in southern culture. The ideal of adding value to what may seem valueless aesthetically to the human eye or stories of how Black Americans in the south still hold on to most of their ancestorial culture. Figures in his work can be seen engaging in their environment whether it’s from celebrations, traditions, or social conditions.