Ilé la ń wò sọmọ lorúkọ
Size: 20" x 16"
Date: 2025
This painting is inspired by the Yoruba proverb “Ilé la ń wò sọmọ lorúkọ,” which translates to “It is the home we look at before giving a child a name.”
The proverb reminds us that a child’s identity is deeply rooted and shaped by the home they come from, the values, love, discipline, and moral foundation instilled within the family.
In this work, the red landscape represents the essence of life, the bloodline and heritage that flow through generations. The winding white path connects homes and figures, symbolising continuity, ancestry, and the passage of values from one generation to the next.
The woman and the child at the forefront embody the nurturing relationship through which identity is formed, while the faint figure near the smaller hut stands as a soul awaiting definition, a life yet to be shaped by its home. The lone tree with red leaves signifies growth rooted in tradition, and the serene blue sky above reflects destiny and divine watchfulness.
Through this piece, I explore how the home is not merely a physical space but the moral soil from which character and identity grow. A name, in this sense, is not just a label; it is a reflection of the home that gives it meaning.
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