Josèfa Ntjam Futuristic Ancestry: Warping Matter and Time-space(s) | Fotografiska
Josèfa Ntjam © Fotografiska
Written by Max Wiener
Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard
Josèfa Ntjam has one of the most remarkable and unique voices in today’s photographic world. Her work is kitschy and camp, using visually stunning colors and images to tell complex stories with real-world themes. Looking into one of her pieces, it's easy to get lost in all the little focal points she creates; however, scaling back reveals a much larger, awe-inspiring creation. In her new (and first United States-based) series presented at New York’s iconic Fotografiska, Futuristic Ancestry: Warping Matter and Time-space(es) takes us on a Matrix-like journey through African heritage, learning bits about the unknown and ourselves along the way. Presented as a multimedia showcase, the series features “sensory video experience, biomorphic sculptures, and photomontages presented on plexiglass and aluminum.” Reading such words only indicates the uniqueness of Ntjam’s voice and her self-expression throughout her work. Her series opened on February 2nd and has a closing date of May 24th.
Josèfa Ntjam © Fotografiska
The first thing you notice about Ntjam’s work is the bright splashes of color thrown about the walls. It’s a kaleidoscope of unmatched vision, each piece serving as its own explosion of color and voice. No single shade overpowers one another, instead they all blend together in perfect harmony to create a stunning visual display. Although Ntjam’s work is on the rise, it seems as if she has honed her particular style for decades; it feels familiar to us. Her choices with each piece are careful and calculated, inviting us further down her rabbit hole and warping our sense of commonality.
Josèfa Ntjam © Fotografiska
Even in a beautifully presented series, Ntjam’s subliminal voice is poignant and powerful, and each piece aims to educate while impressing. Futuristic Ancestry aims to dive deep into African mythology, which is Ntjam's interest. The figures in each of the pieces serve as idols, their stories unknown to us as we greet them. Because of Mtjam’s incredible ability, we are able to cultivate our own stories of who they are and what their purpose is, almost granting us a mythical power of our own. We become the creators of our stories, and with each person who views the work comes new stories and ideas. Throughout the series, themes of identity and origin are apparent, mainly how we all stemmed from the same place but deviated. We all look at the same pieces, but our interpretations are different, making Futuristic Ancestry a truly robust artistic experience.. Scaling back figuratively, we remember that we're all human. While we may have deviated from the beaten path, we're all alike. . We all have similar issues and struggles, and instead of polarizing one another, we should strive for unity. Only incredible art can produce such a profound realization; we only have Josèfa Ntjam to thank.
Josèfa Ntjam © Fotografiska
