“The Pineapple Show” at Tiwani Contemporary in London is a group exhibition that brings together 10 contemporary African artists from Nigeria, Kenya, and the United States who have produced works in a variety of media including painting, sculpture, video, photography, and performance. As the title suggests, the exhibition explores the semiotics of the pineapple fruit. Curated by Nigerian-born artist and filmmaker Zina Saro-Wiwa and presented by the Boys’ Quarters Project Space in Nigeria, the exhibition expands on the traditional Western European imperialist vision of the pineapple as a symbol of exoticism and wealth. It attempts to explore the iconography and symbolism of the fruit within the context of a much broader span of historical and cultural narratives.The participating artists address themes including luxury, power, vulnerability, colonialism, violence, gender, language, labor, memory, and environmentalism. Their works explore a diverse range of the pineapple’s many different societal, cultural, and political affiliations, from its status as the inspiration for African hairstyles to its association with exploitative labor practices.Artists featuring in the show are: Elizabeth Colomba (Martinique/USA), Ian Deleón (USA/Brazil/Cuba), Ayana Evans (USA), Jowhor Ile (Nigeria), Odili Donald Odita (USA/Nigeria), Perrin Oglafa (Nigeria), Temitayo Ogunbiyi (Nigeria), Zina Saro-Wiwa (Nigeria/USA/UK), Johnson Uwadinma (Nigeria) and Arlene Wandera (Kenya/UK).“The Pineapple Show” runs through August 12 at Tiwani Contemporary.
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