Pianist and composer Duval Timothy, who is currently based between London, England, and Freetown, Sierra Leone, performs an extended variation of his song “First Rain,” from his album 2 Sim (2018), in MoMA’s Gund Lobby. This unique presentation features custom clothing designed in collaboration with Grace Wales Bonner, as well as ceramic sculptures—depicting Julius Eastman, Alice Coltrane, and other figures of inspiration—placed atop the piano’s strings to function as conduits of sound. Timothy’s whimsical and impromptu musical performance draws on sounds of nature to evoke the arrival, duration, and passing of rain. Together, these various elements echo the motifs and moods that resonate throughout the exhibition Artist’s Choice: Grace Wales Bonner—Spirit Movers.
Duval Timothy (b. 1989) is a multidisciplinary artist and musician. Timothy’s work explores themes of identity, place, and abstraction, with a focus on evoking feeling through a distinct application of chords and color. Duval has released six albums, set up a recording studio in Sierra Leone, and co-authored The Groundnut Cookbook. Duval has presented work internationally at venues including the Victoria and Albert Museum, Tate Modern, Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), Museo Luigi Varoli, Still House Gallery, Polistar Gallery, and more.
Performance by Duval Timothy
Ceramics by Duval Timothy
Outfit by Duval Timothy and Grace Wales Bonner
Composition “First Rain” by Duval TimothyOrganized by Grace Wales Bonner with Michelle Kuo, The Marlene Hess Curator, and Dana Liljegren, Curatorial Assistant, Department of Painting and Sculpture, MoMA, with the collaboration of Nick Murphy, Curatorial Partner, Pantograph, Paris. Produced by Lizzie Gorfaine, Associate Director and Producer, Performance and Live Programs, with Aminah Ibrahim, Assistant Performance Coordinator, Performance and Live Programs, MoMA.
Thanks to Liam Sangmuah and Jessica Hamenyimana, Research Associates, Wales Bonner.