Hive Curates are pleased to present Maureen Uzoh’s solo exhibition, ‘My Inner Child Says: Live Life Before It Leaves You,’ inviting viewers into a whimsical and introspective journey.

In ‘My Inner Child Says: Live Life Before It Leaves You,’ Uzoh invites viewers into a world where whimsy meets existential reflection. The exhibition features a series of captivating paintings in which the characters are depicted with balloon heads, replacing the normal human visage with a character that is both playful and deeply symbolic.

In this series, Uzoh transforms a deeply personal experience into a universal meditation on the fragility of life. Through this collection of paintings, Uzoh reflects on her near-death experience as a teen, using it as a catalyst to explore themes of second chances, identity, and the fleeting nature of existence. Uzoh’s near-death experience altered her perception of life, imbuing her with a heightened awareness of its impermanence. This revelation is vividly expressed in her paintings, where the balloon heads symbolize the delicate and unpredictable nature of human life. Just as a balloon is fleeting, prone to drift away or burst without warning, so too are the moments and experiences that define our existence. The balloon becomes a metaphor for the transient nature of life, and freedom.

With this heightened awareness of life’s fleeting nature and the passing of time, Uzoh challenges her audience to confront this ephemerality head-on, suggesting that there is no better way to live this impermanent life than living it wholesomely like a child would by embracing the buoyancy and uncertainty of life. She explores the tension she has been feeling recently between the carefree nature of childhood and the burdens of adult life.

The exhibition is a celebration of life’s fleeting beauty, emphasizing the idea that life should be lived with the same lightness and joy that a child experiences when holding a balloon. Each piece tells a different story, yet they all share a common thread, the importance of embracing life’s spontaneity, uncertainty, and wonder before it slips away.

Private View: 8th October 2024, 6-9pm
Exhibition running: 8th October - 22nd October
Opening times: Tues - Fri, 8am - 6pm (other times at request)