A joyful celebration of Boscombe’s vibrant and diverse community, self-taught artist Adilson Naueji’s first solo exhibition at Lighthouse Poole can be seen for free in the Main Gallery until Wednesday 30 July.
BH5: Boscombe Beyond Your Eyes features a series of portraits of people at work and play in Boscombe. Whether pictured on the streets, in their homes or taking part in community activities, the paintings are connected by Adi’s distinctive painting style and his compelling sense of curiosity that has revealed some enchanting stories behind the artworks.
“I feel honoured and happy to finally celebrate my community with some of my subjects, family, friends, and supporters of my work,” says Adi, who won the first Lighthouse Open Call last year.
“Creating the entire body of work for this exhibition was quite challenging for me. First, the majority of the painting, about 80 per cent, were completed this year. Secondly, I faced uncertainty about whether I could fill the space. However, in the end, the effort paid off, and I now have a better understanding of how to manage my time and abilities.”
The portraits celebrate the people and place of Boscombe, where Adi has lived with his family since coming to the UK seven years ago from Angola where he grew up. A self-taught artist, Adi started drawing and painting during the Covid lockdowns, but has developed his style even more since winning the first Lighthouse Open Call last year with his portrait of Maureen.
The exhibition was part of his prize for winning the Open Call and many of the subjects were able to join him at the launch event last week attended by the Mayor of Poole, Cllr Mark Howell, and other dignitaries.
“It truly felt like a duty fulfilled,” he adds. “Boscombe is an eclectic, bohemian, creative place with lots of energy from all the different cultures and communities that meet here. I love this community so the exhibition celebrates what Boscombe is actually like, not what some people think it is like.”
And the success of Adi’s first exhibition has only sharpened his appetite for more.
“Moving forward, my next step is to find a venue in Boscombe to exhibit my work for the local community. Additionally, I have more ambitious plans to set up an exhibition in a primary school in Boscombe, aiming to inspire children through representation and help build their confidence.”
BH5: Boscombe Beyond Your Eyes continues at Lighthouse until Wednesday 30 July.
(NC)
Photos by Emilio Nunez
