WASHINGTON - Aug. 24, 2020 - Somi Nwandu believes in the power of art to transform hearts and minds at critical moments in history.

In the midst of a global pandemic, racial unrest, and a swell of voices calling for equity around the world, the young Nigerian-American artist hopes to use her solo virtual reality art experience to give voice to the unique challenges, opportunities, and promise of black, African women in a futuristic world.

Her Space, a project of Nwandu's The Somi Effect, is an online exhibit featuring the visually stunning and groundbreaking work of the award-winning yet emerging visual, contemporary artist who works in various mediums. The Somi Effect is the culmination of Nwandu's projects journeys, and reflections, shared through multimedia experiences that present the story of the future and the past through the artist's perspective.

Nwandu aims to advance the ways viewers experience African culture and creativity as a whole. She uses the textures of her African heritage to explore her own identity as she attempts to break the negative connotations surrounding mental stability while exploring the double-edged infinitude of one's self.

"I'm a woman trying to explore the nature of human experiences through the advances of technology," Nwandu said. "I express the desire to hide and be seen while exploring the unique nature of individuality."

Through Afrofuturistic expression, Her Space explores the waves, as a phenomenon and metaphor, of African femininity in tandem with the supreme value of human existence. The lenticular lens pieces in the collection and virtual reality exhibit layer emotion, craft, sound, and motion to focus on three areas: mental stabilization advancements, the utilization of an African woman's femininity to personalize Afrofuturism, and electromagnetism as a metaphor.

Nwandu has studied, lived, and worked in five cities across four countries on three continents and has traveled to over 35 nations. Born and raised in Maryland as well as Enugu, Eastern Nigeria, she has always expressed her creativity through writing, painting, photography, drawings, fashion illustrations, and the digital world. She completed an M.A. in Global Creative and Cultural Industries from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) University of London and currently works for the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Her work has been displayed in exhibitions including the XPOSURE International Photography Festival in U.A.E., The Other Art Fair in Los Angeles, LagosPhoto International Art Festival of Photography in Nigeria, and more.

Enter Somi Nwandu's Virtual Reality exhibition Her Space, open until September 20, at https://thesomieffect.com/vrexhibit.

Contact
The Somi Effect
somi@thesomieffect.com