Daniel Benjamin Gallery is pleased to present Analogous, a duo exhibition of paintings by British artists, Alexander James and Shannon Bono.

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“Analogous” as a word represents something that is similar in a way but also invites comparison; showing a likeness that permits one to draw an analogy.

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Reflecting heritage at the core, Bono and James delve into their differing roots for inspiration. Through exploration of self, culture and memories both artists, who may appear similar at a glance, display personal narratives.

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Analogous’ mission is to illustrate how two artists from the same country, both with immigrant backgrounds, can be similar in the subject matter of their works yet be so different in the aesthetic and message, when the culture and roots of each interplay.

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James’ practice seeks to pay homage to both the past and future, especially with the ever- fading memory of the older generation. James looks to interweave elements of memories, historic images and introspections into newly constructed realms that unfold and grow, often with either portraits or images with figures emerging and fading from the surface of the canvases in isolated settings, blurring the boundaries of what is reality and fable.

 

Patching elements of Alexander James’ past, the present and the pre-empted future, his works look to reflectively tell a story about time. James’ works manifest characters and scenarios triggered from his childhood memories and stories, projecting these into present existence.

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Bono’s paintings embody an afrofemcentrist consciousness, sharing muted narratives and projecting the black women’s lived experiences.

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The paintings presented are part of Bono’s new series ‘To Summers End in Gambia’. This new body of work is very personal and critical of the positionality of black womanhood. Bono documents the last 6 months of 2021 which were pivotal in her life, she expresses themes of loss, desire, sexuality and west African divination through her perspective.

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Shannon Bono (British, b.1995) is a visual artist, MA Art & Science graduate from CSM and an Associate Lecturer living and working in London. Bono’s works have been recently part of Bloomberg’s New Contemporaries (2021) at the South London Gallery.

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Alexander James (British, b. 1993) is a multimedia artist. His practice spans diverse media, including painting, sculpture, video and installation. James graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Camberwell College of Arts in London where he studied illustration from 2012 to 2015. He has exhibited his works in London, Berlin, Paris and New York.