Creating these paintings was an emotionally challenging process that initially left me at times feeling defeated. However, through this journey, I experienced profound catharsis and self-discovery. Embracing the past helped me let go of grief, pain, self-doubt, and self-loathing. This led me towards a sense of freedom, while gaining a deeper understanding of my worth, potential and hope.– Gabriel Tendai Choto

On view from 07 August 2024 – 31 August 2024, In this new body of works, Gabriel Tendai Choto explores the human understanding of acceptance, capturing the profound journey that happens between confronting past traumatic experiences and achieving present-day contentment

Honing his signature technique of combining the dual disciplines of printmaking and painting on Somerset paper and wood, Choto evolves his practice by painting his semi-hyper-real figures onto canvases. Expansive neutral spaces within the canvas allow Choto to vividly illustrate his battles with bygone regrets in pieces such as “Whispers of Imperfection” and “Withered Vows,” showing how fixation on his misery obscured glimmers of happiness as he maneuvered through the undulating stages of adulthood.

“Won’t You Say Yes to Me” poignantly reflects the gnawing longing for unquenched desires, exposing how these longings bred insecurity and dissatisfaction, while “Echoes of Absence” and “Discarded Faith” dive into the artist’s prolonged anguish and the difficult path of progressing beyond the resulting dissociation. In these artworks, we witness reverberating pain recede through the transformative effect of embracing sorrowful and joyous moments alike, underscoring their role in his personal evolution. Choto’s evocative self-portraiture in “Catharsis” and “Emotional Odyssey” powerfully depicts this arduous but necessary process.

“Splintered Soul” and “Make Me Whole” explore Choto’s path towards acceptance by reconciling his spiritual beliefs and personal identity, suggesting that embracing our metaphysical aspects can lead to genuine peace. Finally, “Mwari (God), I Am Troubled by Ghosts” portrays the haunting presence of unresolved matters and highlights the necessity of addressing them for enduring healing.

Collectively, these artworks champion a crucial shift in Choto’s perspective: from focusing on what is missing to valuing the now, from grieving losses to nurturing gratitude. They impart the insight that real fulfillment arises from all aspects of our journey and acknowledging their significance. This approach encourages viewers to transcend the limitations of unmet desires and discover true contentedness by accepting life as it is. Ultimately, Choto aims to remind us to find beauty in the current moment and recognize that authentic happiness comes from pro-actively embracing reality, not yearning for what might have been.