Art x Adẹ

Medium: Acrylic  on Canvas Board Size: 16" x 20" Inspired by the Yoruba Proverb: “Adiyẹ baa l’okùn, ara ò ròkùn, ara ò r’adiyẹ," Harmony on the Line is a visual meditation on the Yoruba proverb that says, “A chicken is perching on a rope; neither the chicken nor the rope feels any pain.” This age-old wisdom speaks to a state of delicate balance, where two opposing forces coexist in quiet understanding, without tension or harm. At the heart of the canvas is a chicken perched on a taut rope, poised between contrasting landscapes. Its textured feathers and calm posture symbolise quiet resilience. The rope, stretched between green and golden ground, represents life’s fragile threads, strained, but never broken. Behind it, a chaotic mix of brushstrokes in the sky and trees reflect the world’s complexity, yet the central image remains serene. This painting explores themes of tolerance, silent strength, and the often-overlooked harmony that can exist in fragile...

                      Suspended Roots  This painting is an attempt at a symbolic reflection on the enduring struggle between Nigeria’s political elites and the impoverished masses. At its centre stands a tree — representing the people — suspended precariously above the ground, its roots hanging without anchor. Though some branches carry leaves of hope, others are bare, revealing the harsh reality of life under systemic manipulation. The green land beneath the tree subtly forms the map of Nigeria , suggesting that the struggle is deeply embedded in the nation’s structure. To the left, blood-red hills marked with crosses evoke the suffering and sacrifices of the oppressed. On the right, dark, ashen terrain reflects the paralysing fear and uncertainty enforced by elite control. Above, a turbulent sky of fiery red and blinding yellow represents the chaos and false promises that loom over the nation. The painting speak...

                          The Cocoa Trees  This painting was inspired by my deep personal affinity with cocoa. My father, along with his siblings and close friends, had leased a large hectare of land for the cultivation of cocoa and other cash crops in Ẹda, in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria. The plantation was a vital source of funding for our education. In fact, my father’s ownership of the farm, located far from our village, gave me my first experience of travelling by lorry. I remember watching trees speeding past, a dazzling and unforgettable experience. For us children, the excitement of the journey often outweighed the purpose behind it. During school holidays, we would travel with my father—sometimes my mother—and many members of our extended family. We would leave early in the morning, often in a lorry that had journeyed all the way from Ikarẹ, about 25 miles away. As we departed, the whole vill...