Art x Adẹ

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Board Size: 16"x 20" Date: 2025 Artist:  Matthew Medupin This painting draws inspiration from the following Yoruba proverb; " Àgbà kì í wà l’ọjà, kó rī ọmọ tuntun wọ̀,”  This literally translates to "An elder cannot be in the marketplace while a child's head is turned awkwardly." This proverb emphasises the duty of elders to intervene when the young veer off course. In this work, I depict a child awkwardly twisted on the back of a woman, a symbol of societal care, while an elder figure watches. The distorted posture of the child reflects a world tilted by inexperience, misguidance, or neglect. The elder, calm yet present, embodies wisdom, responsibility, and the silent call to action. In Yoruba culture, the marketplace represents communal life, a place where everyone sees and is seen. The idea that an elder should not look away when a child is in distress is a call for moral leadership, especially in times when th...

                       Ayọnrọ Mountain  In this textured impressionist painting, Ayọnrọ Mountain rises not just as a natural formation, but as a living monument of memory and mysticism. Set against a swirling sky, the mountain is depicted with human features—piercing eyes, a solemn nose, and attentive ears—transforming it into a sentient being that watches over the village of Ogidi, Nigeria. This sacred edifice, rich in folklore, is portrayed as the guardian and chronicler of the community—a silent witness to generations of lives unfolding at its feet. From the first footsteps of a migrant from Ile Ifẹ to the rhythms of births, deaths, and daily life, Ayọnrọ Mountain has borne witness to it all. In this interpretation, the mountain is more than stone and soil; it is the living archive of Ogidi’s soul, an encyclopedia carved by time, memory, and tradition. Trees sprouting from and around its face symbolise li...

These two paintings powerfully convey a narrative of ruin, transformation, and continuity. The top painting, one of my earliest works, though modest in execution, depicts a dilapidated block of three classrooms. The structure appears weathered, with a broken roof, visible cracks, and missing sections. Tall trees loom over the scene, suggesting nature’s slow reclamation of the space. Damaged blue doors and windows, along with fallen logs in the foreground, evoke a sense of abandonment and decay. The overall atmosphere speaks of memory, loss, and the passage of time. In contrast, the bottom painting presents a modernised version of the same structure, now rebuilt. The walls are neatly plastered and painted, the roof is intact, and the classroom doors and windows are fully restored. The scene is brighter and more orderly, with a row of trees in the background hinting at both continuity and growth. This version symbolises renewal, progress, and the enduring importance of educa...