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.