Okolo: The Guest in Residence
This autumn, we’re proud to present Okolo: The Guest in Residence, our latest artist residency at Kimpton Charlotte Square, featuring Glasgow-based Scottish-Nigerian artist and printmaker Nkem Okwechime.
Drawing on his Scottish-Nigerian heritage and South London upbringing, Nkem brings together printmaking, ceramics and mixed media to explore identity, belonging and cultural inheritance. His practice moves between personal histories, archival research and the intersection of Igbo cosmology and contemporary Western culture, examining how the stories and traditions we inherit continue to shape who we become.
At the heart of the exhibition is Okolo, Nkem’s symbolic alter ego. A character who exists somewhere between worlds, Okolo offers a playful yet thought-provoking lens through which to explore memory, perception and the complexities of cultural identity.
Okolo arrives as a guest, but perhaps he has no intention of leaving. Moving through the hotel, he becomes a quiet presence within the house, leaving traces of himself along the way.
As the familiar becomes slightly unfamiliar, the boundaries between guest and host, visitor and resident begin to blur. Rich in symbolism, humour and a sense of play, Okolo: The Guest in Residence invites us to consider what it means to enter a space and make it our own, while carrying with us the places, histories and stories that came before.
Okolo: The Guest in Residence will be making himself at home at Kimpton Charlotte Square until the end of November, inviting guests and visitors to step into Nkem’s world of striking prints, rich symbolism and stories of identity and belonging. Whether you’re checking in or just passing through, come get acquainted with our rather intriguing guest. Who knows what you might discover along the way?
All artworks are available for purchase.
Photography by Andrew Cawley