Damien Ajavon
A Woolen Odyssey
Vindussalen (The Window Hall)
22.02.24 — 07.04.24

Step into a realm where wool becomes more than just a material – it transforms into a narrative, a journey through the tactile landscape of memory and curiosity. In Damien Ajavon's exhibition, one enters the artist's creative process – a world where textures, neutral colours, and forms intertwine to create a multi-sensory experience. One is greeted by the soft rustling of wool and the faint scent of lanolin lingering in the air. Here, inspiration takes shape, weaving threads of memory and imagination into tangible forms.

Drawing inspiration from the concept of a cabinet of curiosities and the evocative allure of a ‘memory palace’, this exhibition invites one to venture into a space where the boundaries between observer and observed become blurred. Wool takes the stage, not only as a textile but also as a conduit for storytelling and introspection. Each work is a testament to the versatility and richness of the material, and the soft, tactile textures of the wool evoke forgotten memories or stir feelings of nostalgia and longing. What also interests Ajavon is the power of art to evoke emotions and provoke introspection without the need for physical interaction. Wool becomes the guide as one journeys through a landscape of memory and curiosity, where the boundaries between past and present dissolve, and the gaze becomes a window into the soul.

Damien Ajavon (b. 1990, Paris) is an Afro-European textile artist, currently residing and working in Søndre Green, Noresund. They hold degrees from the National Academy of the Arts, Oslo (2023), and The Montréal Centre For Contemporary Textiles, Canada. Ajavon has participated in a number of group exhibitions such as The Queer Gaze II (2022) at KODE, Bergen, The Excess is Ritual at Dunlop Gallery, Canada (2022), and Révélations International Biennial of Crafts and Creation in Paris (2022). Furthermore, they have had several solo exhibitions, including Identities at Tempio del Futuro Perduto, Milano (2022), and The Wall of Hands in the foyer of Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo (2022). In 2023, Ajavon was awarded Norske Kunstforeninger’s debutant prize, which was handed out in conjunction with Høstutstillingen at Kunstnernes Hus, Oslo.