Luther Konadu: No Further

The Mackenzie Art Gallery is pleased to present: No Further, a solo exhibition by Luther Konadu. It runs from September 23 until January 14.

This exhibit continues the artist’s ongoing, long-term exploration of portraiture photography, which began in 2015. Departing from conventional depictions of human subjects, Konadu directs his attention to the medium of photography itself and the compositional elements inherent to the genre. By interrogating photography as a vehicle of access, the artist encourages viewers to consider both its limitation and its potential and how it chooses what to capture with its viewfinder.

Built on a strong understanding of modern and contemporary photography, Konadu’s work recalls French semiotician Roland Barthes’ discussion of the photographic image as a complex interplay of signifiers—unveiling layers of meaning embedded within the visual representation—or American philosopher Susan Sontag’s critical analysis of photography’s relationship to memory and truth, which questioned the role of the photograph as both a document of reality and a subjective interpretation, raising awareness of the medium’s potential to shape our perceptions and memories. Through his innovative and thought-provoking approach to making contemporary portraiture, Konadu challenges viewers to question the boundaries and possibilities of photography as an artistic medium. 

Konadu’s new body of work transcends traditional notions of portraiture. The artist presents new insights that shed light on the evolving nature of the medium and its role in shaping our understanding of identity, representation, and the act of looking itself. In No Further, Konadu’s artistic vision merges with the intellectual richness of contemporary photography discourse, fostering an environment of critical engagement and opening avenues for profound contemplation on the nature and significance of portraiture in contemporary society. —Tak Pham, curator

Luther Konadu is an artist and writer based in Winnipeg (Treaty One). His studio activities are realized through photographic processes that give way to sculptural components. He acknowledges the legacies of the photographic medium as an interpretive site for generating new conventions and expanding fixed narratives. 

Konadu’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, Aperture, and FOAM International Photography Magazine. In 2019 he won three national competitions: BMO 1st Art!, the New Generation Photography Award, and the Salt Spring National Art Prize. He has exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; the Museum of Contemporary Art, Toronto; Remai Modern, Saskatoon; The Polygon Gallery, Vancouver; SBC galerie d’art contemporain, Montreal; Filter Space, Chicago; the Center for Photography at Woodstock, New York; and the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts. 

Luther Konadu expresses his deepest gratitude to his family of friends who continue to support this ongoing photography project.

This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council with funding from the City of Winnipeg and the RBC Emerging Artist Scholarship.