CURATORS STATEMENT
Welcome to “The Night Sees” - an adventure into the enigmatic realm of nocturnal dreamscapes, where reality merges with the surreal and the mundane transcends into the extraordinary. In this captivating exhibition, darkness is not merely an absence of light but a canvas for boundless imagination. Each stroke of paint and pixel invites you to explore the dimensions of the night, where shadows dance with secrets and dreams take flight under the cloak of darkness.
In this collection, Taj Francis unveils a fresh artistic style that embodies a purposeful departure from conventional thinking — an intentional act of epistemic delinking. Through this departure, he conjures alternative realms that elude the confines of imagination or control. Departing from his signature style, he harnesses the contrasting nature of the nocturnal experience to subvert perception and provoke thought, inviting viewers to explore the depths of their subconscious and confront the mysteries that lurk in the darkness, encouraging a reimagining of the familiar and embracing new ways of understanding and interpreting the world.
As a setting, the night is both a space of contemplation and contention, where the veil of darkness encourages introspection while also serving as a battleground where dissonances contend – the frontline marking the boundary between reality and illusion. As a character, the night is a reliquary – a silent witness to the stories of humanity, preserving the echoes of forgotten whispers, solace sought by the weary, secrets shared under the cloak of darkness and the remnants of dreams long past.
From the allegorical nighttime scenes teeming with fantastical characters to the stylised representation of the tropical landscape, each artwork in this exhibition whispers its own tale, inviting you to decipher its mysteries and unveil the complex narratives within. Prepare to be mesmerised by the haunting allure of the night as you immerse yourself in this spellbinding array of surreal and intriguing nocturnal visions.
Join us as we journey through a world of darkness, where the night sees all, and the imagination knows no bounds. As you wander through these ethereal nightscapes, you'll find yourself drawn into a realm where time stands still, and the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur into obscurity.
–Kerry Chen
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...EACH ARTWORK IN THIS EXHIBITION WHISPERS ITS OWN TALE
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BIOGRAPHY TAJ FRANCIS
Over the past ten years, Taj Francis has blazed a trail within the local and international contemporary visual art scene, distinguishing himself through his remarkable and unmistakable visual style. He has applied his mastery across various artistic endeavours including murals, animation, illustrations, motion graphics, and providing artistic direction and graphic design for a diverse clientele. Notable clients include HBO, Universal Studios, Simon and Schuster Publishing, Samsung, Heineken, PURE Chocolate Jamaica and recording artiste, Protoje.
A resident of Kingston, Jamaica, Taj attended the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts where he attained a BFA in Visual Communication with a concentration in Illustration. He has participated in numerous arts-based events and exhibitions across the globe, earned industry accolades, and garnered features in various local and international publications, including ARC Magazine, AfroPunk, Vanity Fair, Vice and Beautiful and Bizarre Magazine.
In his debut solo exhibition, "The Night Sees," Taj introduces his latest collection of artworks – a combination of paintings and digital illustrations – signalling his venture into the realm of fine art. This departure from his signature style and representational techniques towards a more expressive and surreal expression reflects a deliberate shift in perspective. This evolution is driven by his intention to infuse his present and upcoming works with greater honesty, especially within the context of the artistic medium.
“WHAT I'M TRYING TO ACHIEVE NOW ARE WORKS THAT TAP INTO, NOT NECESSARILY SO MUCH THE IDEA OF REPRESENTATION AND STYLE, BUT A SENSE OF WONDER AND MYSTERY AND SELF-REFLECTION…AND, BY SELF-REFLECTION, I DON'T NECESSARILY JUST MEAN MYSELF, BUT US, AS A COLLECTIVE OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CARIBBEAN AND BLACK PEOPLE, SPECIFICALLY.”
– TAJ FRANCIS
Prior to the exhibition, Taj created a stunning motion graphic for the newly-released Bob Marley One Love movie, alongside artwork for Netflix's “Black in Bloom” Black History Month Collection. For further insights into his work, visit
www.tajtenfold.com or follow his Instagram page @tajfrancis.
RESTLESSNESS
2022
$3,500 USD
acrylic on wood panel, mounted framing. 36 x 36 inches / 91 x 91 cmVICES
2022
$3,500 USD
acrylic on wood panel, mounted framing. 36 x 36 inches / 91 x 91 cm
2023
$3,500 USD
ROAST (FIRST CONTACT) acrylic on wood panel, mounted framing. 36 x 36 inches / 91 x 91 cmSLEEP ENVY I
acrylic on wooden circle 24 inches / 61 cm radius
2022
$2,200
SLEEP ENVY II
acrylic on wooden circle 24 inches / 61 cm radius
2022
$2,200
SLEEP ENVY III
acrylic on wooden circle 24 inches / 61 cm radius
2023
$2,200
$5,500 USD
CAPACITY acrylic on canvas 48 x 48 inches / 122 x 122 cm 2023
$5,500 USD
MERCURY acrylic on canvas48 x 48 inches / 122 x 122 cm 2023
2023
$2,700 USD
2023
$2,700 USD
NYX + acrylic on linen paper 24 x 36 inches / 61 x 91 cm VOID acrylic on linen paper 24 x 36 inches / 61 x 91 cm
THE NIGHT IS BOTH A SPACE OF CONTEMPLATION AND CONTENTION
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HEAL acrylic on linen paper 24 x 36 inches / 61 x 91 cm 2024 $2,700 USD
2024
$200 USD
2024
$200 USD
2024
$200 USD
GHOST ink and acrylic on water colour paper. 11.7 x 20.4 inches / 29 .71 x 51.81 cm OIL ink and acrylic on water colour paper. 11.7 x 20.4 inches / 29 .71 x 51.81 cm RITE ink and acrylic on water colour paper. 11.7 x 20.4 inches / 29 .71 x 51.81 cmMEDICINE I
acrylic on circle canvas. 16 inches / 40 .64 cm radius
2024
$1,200 USD
MEDICINE II
acrylic on circle canvas. 16 inches / 40 .64 cm radius
2024
$1,200 USD
MEDICINE III
acrylic on circle canvas. 16 inches / 40 .64 cm radius
2024
$1,200 USD
FORGOT TO FORGIVE
acrylic on canvas. 40 x 72 inches / 102 x 182 cm 2023
$9,700 USD
SAMPLE IMAGE
PURCHASE INFORMATION
For all art purchase inquiries, please email: narrativecuratorial@gmail.com or store@tajtenfold.com
All prices listed in USD Collection, Shipping and further information will be discussed at time of purchase.
PREVIOUS WORK
tajtenfold.com
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THE NIGHT IS A RELIQUARY –A SILENT WITNESS TO THE STORIES OF HUMANITY
THE NIGHT IS A RELIQUARY –A SILENT WITNESS TO THE STORIES OF HUMANITY
SPECIAL THANKS
Thank you to all supporters who have been following this journey, and thank you to those who will in the future. Thank you to Mint Creative, Narrative Curatorial and PropYaard for their handwork and guidance.
Thank you to all friends and love ones that helped make this project happen. Thank you to Kerry Chen, our curator, Randall Richards and Neochae Flowers our production managers, Anna-Lisa Guthrie our location designer and to my wife and amazing artist Kokab Zohoori-Dossa for all their support.
Thanks to Justine Henzell, Sunrae and everyone at 10A for their enthusiasm and support. To my friends Matthew McCarthy and Ikem Smith for always being there to see me through my crazy ideas.
Special Thanks to Dr. Patrina Dacres, Tavia S.K. Bemjamine, Denny Fyffe - Cinematographer, Stamma and the RedBull Team, BMB Catering, and Redstripe Jamaica, and many more.
Blessings and much love.
- Taj Francis
TAJ FRANCIS FEB 17, 2024 COLLECTION tajtenfold.com