1-54: New York

Ekene Emeka-Maduka, a Nigerian artist based in Winnipeg for nearly a decade, explores diverse mediums like painting, sculpture, film, and community projects. Her art delves into migrant experiences, drawing from personal memories and emotions, linked to broader historical and cultural contexts. She holds a BFA Hons. from the University of Manitoba. Maduka's work has been showcased globally, including at the STAGES Biennial, where she created "Nri* for thought: Languages of Love Personified," featuring a geodesic dome and community garden, with workshops for newcomers and Indigenous youth. She also exhibited at Jeffrey Deitch Los Angeles and is represented by Fabienne Levy Gallery, with one of her pieces in MACAAL Museum's permanent collection. In 2017, she received an artist start-up grant from Swizz Beatz and debuted internationally at 1-54 London, with Christie's Auction House featuring her work.

In this series, specially created for 1-54 called “Lessons on Flying”, Emeka-Maduka explores fantasy, surrealism, dreams, and imagination, drawing from childhood to adulthood. She references popular fictions like Igbo fables, Alice in Wonderland, and Disney characters, all symbols of imaginative worlds. These references symbolize the transformative power of dreams and flight, linking to the anticipation of travel and exploration. However, the reality of air travel also brings complexities, including class disparities and emotional layers at airports. Emeka-Maduka aims to depict travel scenes without specific airline or destination markers, creating an ambiance akin to dreams—vague yet familiar. Dreams and airports share fluidity and unpredictability, encompassing both excitement and anxiety. Drawing from her own experiences, Emeka-Maduka highlights issues of race, stereotyping, and authority at borders, challenging idealized notions of justice. While not offering solutions, her artwork prompts reflection on societal issues and the potential for positive change through imagination and dreaming.