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Tiffanie Delune’s "The Geography of Feelings" Debuts at Gallery 1957

French Belgo-Congolese artist Tiffanie Delune (b. 1988) brings her vibrant, soulful creations to Gallery 1957 in London for her highly anticipated exhibition, ‘The Geography of Feelings’. This marks Delune’s first solo exhibition at the gallery, where she will unveil a new body of work featuring paintings and textiles that explore the intersections of spirituality, nature, and the subconscious.

Delune’s artistry is deeply rooted in her multicultural identity. Of French, Belgian, and Congolese descent, the artist has lived across several cultural hubs—Paris, London, and Lisbon—before settling in her current studio in Montpellier, France. Her latest works reflect her personal and creative journeys, blending her diasporic heritage with the landscapes of her travels, especially the rich imagery she’s drawn from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where her father was born. Her work is not just a celebration of her cultural heritage but a deep exploration of the human experience, inspired by her global life and eclectic influences. In her Montpellier studio, Delune’s artistic process is visible in the imagery she surrounds herself with—photos of mango trees taken during her travels in DR Congo, anatomical drawings of spines, pelvises, and lungs, and sketches from Miró, Hilma af Klint, and Magritte. These references act as the foundation for her intricate and multilayered creations. Her artistic practice is characterized by the seamless merging of geometry, spirituality, and nature—an approach that brings to life her visionary dreamscapes.

For The Geography of Feelings, Delune’s palette has shifted towards bolder colors, with vibrant hues flowing across canvases. Her mixed media approach incorporates acrylics, oil pastels, spray paint, threads, and glitter, adding texture and a sense of depth to each piece. Delune skillfully balances the intellectual and the playful, darkness and light, grounding her work in nature while elevating it with a spiritual essence. Her creations evoke a dialogue between the material and the metaphysical, giving voice and life to the natural world. What sets this exhibition apart is its multisensory dimension. Delune collaborated with composer Guilhem Tamisier to create two musical compositions that add an audible layer to the artwork. Each 19-minute composition is a soundscape, filled with voices and fragments from Delune’s travels, designed to complement the shapes, colors, and movements of her paintings. Visitors are invited to immerse themselves in the sonic experience, as the music adds a deeper emotional resonance to the visual elements of the exhibition.

This exhibition also speaks to the mission of Gallery 1957, which has spaces in both Accra and London. Dedicated to international cultural exchange, the gallery presents artists who challenge conventional Western narratives of identity and belonging. Since its founding, it has championed innovative practices and in 2021 launched the Yaa Asantewaa Art Prize, dedicated to female Ghanaian artists.

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Photo of the artist Abdel Abdulai