Norfolk Arts is pleased to welcome Mensah Bey back to Norfolk, Virginia from San Diego, California for his solo exhibition at our Offsite Gallery: “Access and Extension”, a collection of artworks inspired by his Artist Residency in Havana, Cuba via Rooster Global News Network.
“Access and Extension” references the constant tug of war Cuban citizens and visitors to Havana face with little access to tangible and intangible needs.
Bey incorporates his signature surrealist style with a conversation about Cuban relationships with the Internet and social media. Multi-dimensional figures and collage composed imagery are akin to the bombardment of information the Internet breeds.
Bey eloquently weaves narratives into the landscape of Havana’s bustling vibrant city life with paintings that explore “selfie” culture as an insight on the use of digital devices in underdeveloped societies.
Bey acknowledges his own intrusion and biases, placing remnants of his role as a part-time member of the community. He observes that whether giving or receiving, the act of extending oneself becomes a powerful form of exchange.
Mensah created the 1st Norfolk Arts Asphalt Art project in the Five Points Neighborhood in Norfolk, VA in 2020. Bey is a native of Richmond, VA and received his Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from Hampton University and his Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from Norfolk State University.
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