Where the Tree Will Fall


This painting is inspired by a Yoruba proverb:
“Tí ọmọ bá ń gé igi, baba a dúró kó wo ibi tí igi yóò wó.”
“When a child is cutting a tree, the father stands by to see where it will fall.”

Rich with metaphor, the work reflects the intergenerational balance between youthful action and elder wisdom. A child, full of determination, chops away at a towering tree, while an elder—likely the father—stands nearby, quietly watching, staff in hand. He does not interfere, but he is present.

Set beneath a vivid blue sky and rooted in an earthy field, this moment captures a timeless lesson in leadership, mentorship, and the power of silent observation. It is a visual proverb, reminding us that guidance does not always mean intervention.

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