Taym we taym bi bin taym

“For her exhibition “Taym we taym bi bin taym” Agnes Essonti Luque has produced a new body of work that includes a range of mediums, including textiles, installation, photography, and video. Presented as an assemblage of objects, images, ideas, and emotions, Agnes reminds us that every thought, feeling, person and place is part of a larger whole

Agnes’ use of Pidgin is, in part, a commentary on the violent oppression of languages, and therefore communication, by colonial forces (as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o wrote “The bullet was the means of the physical subjugation. Language was the means of the spiritual subjugation”), but also as an acknowledgement of Pidgin’s adaptive and evolving nature. Contrary to the perception of Pidgin as a broken or bastard language, Agnes understands it is a living language that is continually shaped by the experiences and needs of its speakers, making it a unique form of assemblage in its own right.

(…) One particular, and integral aspect of Agnes’ work is her affinity for food. This connection is evident in many forms, from video and photographic works to the table laid ready and waiting for guests to share a meal. Whilst it is clear that Agnes’ practice is undeniably intertwined with the pleasures of food, these works reveal that her interest goes far beyond the essential needs for sustenance, or frivolously Instagrammable dinners. More than just visual depictions of food and implied eating, they highlight the importance of the shared experience while taking into consideration complex emotions and ideas related to culture, tradition, and identity. Collectively, the works transcend the sum of their parts in order to become something much more cogent and significant.”

Text by Tsering Frykman-Glen