Drawings 1990s - Present
For Shoa drawing what you can see in the perceived world with accuracy, has played an important role in his graphic work, right from the start of his career, aged seventeen. Shoa drawing his mum at 19 showcases clearly his ability to scrutinise form, draw what he saw in front of him with incredible intensity and emotion. He would later spend up to one month, over 200 hours drawing a statue in the V&A, trying to make it so observed, that it looked alive, the more he described, the more fresh the drawing became. Later he brought, this power into drawing trees in parks, olive groves, without using tone, but convincingly describing form and space by unusual, daring mark making. Shoa feels as comfortable working from his imagination, allowing himself total unsentimental, uncensored freedom of expression and emotion. In his more recent series, Seen and Unseen, Shoa was trying to convey in mythic language, the whole Covid period, BLM movement, from the perspective of a person of colour.
Shoa’s works often explore profound themes of nature, humanity, and time, blending traditional influences with bold, contemporary provocations. His drawings capture the enduring spirit and resilience of natural forms while engaging in critical dialogue with art history, including its more taboo or overlooked elements.
Mum, 1988
Pencil on Paper 21 x 15 cm |
Statue Drawing, 1993
Pencil on paper 42 x 29.9 cm Collection of V&A Museum, London |
Path in Klil, 1997
Pencil on paper 21 x 15 cm |
Garden Square, 1997
Pencil on paper 21 x 15 cm |
Couple posing, 2004
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Women in room, 2004
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Skull, 2007
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Skull posing, 2007
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Cigarette Cross, 2009
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Holy Smoke, 2009
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Consumer love, 2012
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Third-party mediator, 2012
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Lovers, 2013
Pencil on paper
84.1 x 59.4 cm
Pencil on paper
84.1 x 59.4 cm
Homo Erectus, 2014
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
YBA, 2014
Pencil on paper 59.4 x 42 cm |
Wane, Seen and unseen, 2022
Coloured pencils on paper 42 x 29.7 |
In the shadows, 2022
Coloured pencil on paper 22 x 15 cm |
Holland Park, Oak, London, 2018
Pencil On paper 42 x 29.7 cm |
Kensington Gardens, Planes trees, 2018
Pencil On paper 42 x 29.7 cm |
Ancient Spanish Olive tree, 2019
Pencil On paper 42 x 29.7 cm |
Spanish Olive, 2019
Pencil On paper 42 x 29.7 cm |
Article by Isobel Johnstone Curator of the Arts Council Collection 1979 - 2004