Efie Gallery Presents 'Solace in Soil' with Mohamed Yousif and Maggie Otieno

Efie Gallery is set to unveil 'Solace in Soil', a dual exhibition featuring Emirati sculptor Dr. Mohamed Yousif (b. 1953) alongside Kenyan artist Maggie Otieno (b. 1974), with Emirati curator Shamma Al Mheiri at the helm. The exhibition opens on 31 May and emphasizes the interconnectedness of their artistic practices and the cultural dialogue between Africa and the Middle East. Yousif's creations, which delve into themes of motion and stillness using natural materials, are part of collections at the Sharjah Art Foundation and have been showcased at notable venues such as the Venice Biennale (2015, 2017) and the Bangladesh Biennial (2004). Otieno's work features elongated abstract forms crafted from 150-year-old railway sleepers, originally imported from India for Kenya's railway in 1896. Director Kwame Mintah expresses the gallery's mission to serve as a cultural bridge linking these two regions.