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Motunrayo Akinola: Knees Kiss Ground

An old fashion lamp hanging with a shadow on a red curtain behind it.
Exhibitions | Open to all

Bonington Gallery are delighted to present Knees Kiss Ground, a solo exhibition by artist Motunrayo Akinola, which explores faith and belonging through everyday objects. Free and open to all.

  • From: Saturday 18 January 2025, 11 am
  • To: Saturday 8 March 2025, 3 pm
  • Location: Bonington Gallery, Bonington Building, Dryden Street, Nottingham, NG1 4GG
  • Cost: Free
  • Download this event to your calendar

Event details

Head to Bonington Gallery to explore Knees Kiss Ground by London-based artist Motunrayo Akinola.

The exhibition was produced during a six-month residency Motunrayo secured at South London Gallery (SLG) as part of their Postgraduate Residency scheme. The scheme provides early-career artists with the rare opportunity to produce a new body of work. Knees Kiss Ground was first exhibited at SLG in 2024 and tours to Bonington Gallery in 2025.

Motunrayo uses images of the home and everyday objectives to explore comfort and belonging. He's interested in the function and materiality of these objects, and how they can trigger emotions and memories. This exhibition includes an immersive installation constructed entirely from corrugated cardboard to replicate the exact dimensions of a shipping container, and several light works that explore the relationship between light and religious or spiritual rituals. These works also make reference to Biblical associations of light as a revelatory presence.

Akinola’s interest in attitudes towards migration stems from his dual upbringing in London and Lagos, Nigeria. His research throughout his residency has delved into post-colonial power dynamics and the psychology of ownership. By noting subtle gaps in cultural knowledge, his work aims to come to a new understanding about the possession of space.

This exhibition runs alongside The Aimless Archive – Suggested Starting Points in the Bonington Vitrines.

About Motunrayo Akinola
Motunrayo Akinola is a London-based artist who uses images of the home and everyday materials to explore comfort and belonging. He creates sculptures, installations, sound and drawings. He studied at RA Schools, graduating in 2023. As a British-born Nigerian who has spent time in and now feels comfortable in both countries, Akinola’s work exposes the nuanced differences between the two places.

Exhibition launch

Book your free ticket for our exhibition launch event on Friday 17 January.

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Location details

Address:

Bonington Gallery
Bonington Building
Dryden Street
 Nottingham
 NG1 4GG

Travel Info:

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