Candles in the Dark: Joseph Ijoyemi Explores Migration and Belonging at Whitechapel Gallery
Joseph Ijoyemi: Candles in the Dark
23th October 2025 | 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Whitechapel Gallery
77–82 Whitechapel High Street
London E1 7QX
The Nigerian-Swedish multidisciplinary artist Joseph Ijoyemi will present his new performance work, Candles in the Dark, at Whitechapel Gallery on 23 October, as part of the East London Art Prize takeover.
Blending performance, music, social media footage and live production, Candles in the Dark explores migration and integration through the lived experiences of Black communities. The piece gives voice to the realities of displacement and belonging, capturing the complexities of migrant life through a deeply personal lens.
Courtesy of the artist
Fusing afrobeats and grime with recorded conversations with friends and family, Ijoyemi asks a central question: “What does ‘Candles in the Dark’ mean to you?” The result is a poignant reflection on identity, memory and cultural heritage that speaks to the diasporic condition in 2025.
Ijoyemi’s practice bridges multiple forms of expression, demonstrating a commitment to storytelling, innovation and cultural dialogue. His new work creates an immersive environment that challenges audiences to reconsider social divisions and engage with the multicultural realities of contemporary Britain.
Inspired by recent travels to Nigeria and Sweden, Ijoyemi’s performance examines the politics of migration through the prism of hope. It advocates for a more inclusive and empathetic vision of society—one illuminated, as the title suggests, by small acts of light in dark times.
About Joseph Ijoyemi
Based in London, Joseph Ijoyemi is a Swedish-Nigerian artist whose work spans painting, performance and mixed media. Drawing from personal history and community narratives, his art moves between figurative and abstract modes to explore questions of belonging, heritage and identity.
Joseph Ijoyemi: Candles in the Dark opens on the 23th of October 2025 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. at Whitechapel Gallery
©2025 Joseph Ijoyemi