Designer Ini Archibong has unveiled his first solo exhibition at the Friedman Benda gallery in New York. Titled Hierophany, from the Greek word hiero- which means “sacred”, and phainein which means “to show”, the exhibition showcases four bodies of work: Vernus, Manna, Shade and Obelisk. Archibong, who views design through a philosophical lens, created these works as tangible objects that are intended to convey expressions of spirituality, unseen force and energy.
Manna Chandelier
My goal with each piece is to exalt a single universal and spiritually powerful concept, which can stand as a microcosmic example of the entire of the universe’s spiritual essence.
Manna Chandelier
Manna Chandelier
Manna Chandelier
Each of the four pieces is a reflection of Archibong’s life experiences and rooted in his lifelong interests in global cultures, mathematics, philosophy, mythology, world religion, and his own Nigerian ancestry. Archibong chose hand-blown glass, obsidian and marble to highlight the beauty of the materials when they are pushed to new boundaries. He shares: “I’m pleasantly surprised when I see a new material or a material used in a new way that makes me feel something that I’ve been trying to capture. The stories are already there latent in the back of my mind, but then there are the poignant moments of those stories that I’m on the lookout to illustrate. A new material means being able to tell a story I haven’t told before.”
Shade Table
Shade Table
Shade Table
Shade Table
Dark Vernus
Dark Vernus
Dark Vernus
Dark Vernus
Obelisk
Obelisk
Obelisk
Obelisk
Hierophany has been part of an ongoing four-year collaboration with Friedman Benda and is the first time the body of work is available for public viewing. The exhibition is on view through November 2, 2021. For more information on Hierophany, visit friedmanbenda.com.
Photos by Andreas Zimmermann.
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