Art x Adẹ

This painting draws its inspiration from a profound Yoruba proverb: "Igi gogoro ma gun mi loju, okere la ti n wo" , which translates to "For a tall tree not to poke me in the eye, it is best observed from a distance." At its core, this saying speaks to the importance of caution, foresight, and the wisdom of perspective in navigating life’s challenges. The towering, thorny tree in the painting represents looming threats or difficult situations that may appear overpowering up close. The lone figure on the path, standing at a safe distance and facing the vast ocean, symbolises the human need to pause, reflect, and evaluate from afar before engaging. The turbulent sky and crashing waves echo the uncertainties of life, while the winding path suggests that wisdom is often found through introspection, not confrontation.  As an artist, I am deeply influenced by proverbs, nature, and personal experience. This piece is not just a visual expression, but a moral c...

Corruption, a universally condemned term, is not as universal as it seems. Like many ideas shaped by power, its definition and consequences are determined not solely by law or ethics, but by geography and class. In today’s global landscape, there are effectively two versions of corruption: one tailored for the poor nations of the Global South, and another reserved, or rather excused, for the rich nations of the Global North. In the Global South, corruption is loudly and frequently condemned. It’s the face of bribery in government offices, ghost workers on state payrolls, election rigging, inflated contracts, and kickbacks. It’s the poor man’s corruption: visible, often crude, and easily vilified. Western governments, international institutions, and media outlets devote significant resources to exposing it. And rightly so, because it undermines development, weakens public trust, and entrenches poverty. But what often goes unspoken is that this same passionate indignation rarely extend...

This painting is a visual tribute to the burial rituals of my childhood village in Nigeria. It's a memory engraved into my soul. In our tradition, the act of carrying the coffin is not merely logistical; it’s ceremonial. A strong man, often chosen for his physical and moral stature, balances the heavy coffin on his head, cushioned by folded cloth and fastened with red cloth rope that signifies honour, duty, and communal strength. The painting depicts that symbolic moment of transition when the body is prepared for its final journey, and the entire village comes alive in shared purpose. The crowd, dressed in traditional garments and headpieces, forms a chorus of presence, emotion, and respect. Thatched huts, swaying palms, and birds in the sky frame the event, rooting it in the rhythms of rural life and the natural world. This work speaks to the sacred relationship between the living and the dead, the weight of tradition, and the beauty of communal rituals. It is a re...

“When the Rains Forgot to Fall” is a haunting visual narrative that explores the human cost of global warming through an African lens. Painted on a round canvas, symbolising the earth's continuity and shared responsibility—the composition immerses the viewer in a parched village landscape drenched in hues of burnt orange, red, and brown. At the centre, two villagers dressed in traditional attire traverse a scorched terrain, burdened with tools and a water vessel—evoking the struggle for survival in a land where rainfall has become scarce. A lone tree with fading foliage and a distant hut hint at the fragility of rural life, while the smoky sky overhead carries an ominous presence. Above them, a large solemn face ancestral looms in the sky, symbolising the watchful sorrow of those who came before, and perhaps the judgment of nature itself. The face also represents a plea: a silent cry for humanity to heed the warnings of a warming planet. This piece blends traditiona...