Nahem Shoa Drawings. THE EVOLUTION OF MAN Monkey Drawings Nahem Shoa

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.