Dark Night II 2018

Monica Ikegwu’s 'Dark Night II' pulls us into a mysterious nocturne, a dreamscape rendered with oil paint. The scene is bathed in blues and greens, punctuated by the startling red of a car. The paint is applied smoothly, yet it carries a weight, especially in the ghostly, repetitive forms of the building in the background. I can imagine the artist layering these shapes, building up the texture to create a palpable sense of unease. What was Monica thinking as she built up this world? Maybe she felt like she was creating a stage set, a place where the drama of youth unfolds under the cloak of darkness. The kids are the focus, and they're caught in the headlights. This piece feels connected to the rich tradition of figurative painting, but with a modern, personal twist. It's as if Monica is in conversation with artists like Edward Hopper, reinterpreting their themes of isolation and urban life through her own unique lens. And that’s how art evolves – through dialogue, transformation, and the courage to make something new out of what came before.