Echos of Ehiosu 1.3 came from experimenting with handmade paper and trying to understand what it could bring to my work. I had first used handmade paper from Nepal and became really drawn to the texture and the way it behaved on the surface. When I couldn’t find the same paper again in the art shop near my studio, I started working with Japanese handmade washi instead. I layered the paper, staining some of it with colour and then placing more neutral layers over the top. I liked the idea of things still showing through, of colour, marks and earlier layers peeping out from underneath. Nothing feels completely hidden or completely finished. For me, this piece is part of exploring a more layered and imperfect surface, where peeling, transparency and texture become part of the beauty of the work. And honestly, I just really love working with this paper.
Shyne Eghosa (b. 1975) is a Nigerian-born, self-taught artist whose work explores memory and identity through bold, textured compositions. Since beginning to paint in early 2023, he has developed a raw and expressive style rooted in Neo-Expressionism, Art Brut, and a Trans-Cultural approach where African heritage and European diasporic experience collide. Working primarily on wood panels with acrylics, oil sticks, pastels, and fabric, he draws inspiration from traditional African masks and crafts, as well as artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paul Klee, and Manolo Valdés. Many viewers relate his work to Basquiat, though his palette and forms also reflect the modernist spirit of Barcelona, where he currently lives. His choice of wood as a primary surface is rooted in childhood memories grounding his practice in personal history and an approach that embraces the raw, unrefined nature of the materials themselves. He is the founder of Unmaking Art Studio, a nonprofit space in Barcelona where a diverse group of emerging artists come together to share ideas, create, and exhibit. For him, “unmaking” is not about destruction, it’s about stripping away what no longer fits and giving shape to something more honest. As he puts it: “My art is a conversation between cultures, history, and my personal journey. Each piece is a step forward in discovering who I am.” Though new to the art scene, Shyne's work was selected for the juried Biennale di Chianciano 2024 in Tuscany, Italy. He has also exhibited in various group shows in Barcelona, and currently has work with Tobian Art Gallery in Florence, Italy.
Echos of Ehiosu 1.3 came from experimenting with handmade paper and trying to understand what it could bring to my work. I had first used handmade paper from Nepal and became really drawn to the texture and the way it behaved on the surface. When I couldn’t find the same paper again in the art shop near my studio, I started working with Japanese handmade washi instead. I layered the paper, staining some of it with colour and then placing more neutral layers over the top. I liked the idea of things still showing through, of colour, marks and earlier layers peeping out from underneath. Nothing feels completely hidden or completely finished. For me, this piece is part of exploring a more layered and imperfect surface, where peeling, transparency and texture become part of the beauty of the work. And honestly, I just really love working with this paper.
Shyne Eghosa (b. 1975) is a Nigerian-born, self-taught artist whose work explores memory and identity through bold, textured compositions. Since beginning to paint in early 2023, he has developed a raw and expressive style rooted in Neo-Expressionism, Art Brut, and a Trans-Cultural approach where African heritage and European diasporic experience collide. Working primarily on wood panels with acrylics, oil sticks, pastels, and fabric, he draws inspiration from traditional African masks and crafts, as well as artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paul Klee, and Manolo Valdés. Many viewers relate his work to Basquiat, though his palette and forms also reflect the modernist spirit of Barcelona, where he currently lives. His choice of wood as a primary surface is rooted in childhood memories grounding his practice in personal history and an approach that embraces the raw, unrefined nature of the materials themselves. He is the founder of Unmaking Art Studio, a nonprofit space in Barcelona where a diverse group of emerging artists come together to share ideas, create, and exhibit. For him, “unmaking” is not about destruction, it’s about stripping away what no longer fits and giving shape to something more honest. As he puts it: “My art is a conversation between cultures, history, and my personal journey. Each piece is a step forward in discovering who I am.” Though new to the art scene, Shyne's work was selected for the juried Biennale di Chianciano 2024 in Tuscany, Italy. He has also exhibited in various group shows in Barcelona, and currently has work with Tobian Art Gallery in Florence, Italy.
