Following her debut international solo exhibition, Tresses and Textures, showcased at The Other Art Fair in Dallas in 2024 and funded by Next of Kin and Thought Pyramid Art Centre, Yakno Jessicah Ene—winner of the landmark Next of Kin Series 6, the first edition of the prestigious competition to welcome visual artists from across Africa—returns with her highly anticipated Nigerian debut solo exhibition, BEYOND WORDS AND TIME. This exhibition marks the grand prize for her triumph in Series 6. This exhibition, curated by Adétilóyè Olúwatósìn Jẹ́kámí, features 16 compelling works that extend Yakno’s artistic voice far beyond conventional discourse.
Anchored in surrealist visual language, BEYOND WORDS AND TIME explores the nuanced intersections of identity, time, and the complex cultural expectations imposed on women. Each piece becomes an invitation to be heard rather than interpret—summoning the subconscious into spaces where language may falter but emotion persists.
More than a showcase of technical brilliance, BEYOND WORDS AND TIME is a reflective journey into the unsaid—the repressed histories, the quiet revolts, the invisible negotiations of the everyday life of women. In silence and form, Yakno reminds us that what cannot be spoken may still be powerfully seen.
The exhibition opening included special performances by Brenda Nwafor and The Thauvma Musical Drama Group.