ABO ORO LA SO FUN OMOLUABI, TOBA DE NU RE, A DI ODINDI”
It is a Yoruba proverb whose literal meaning says “Half word is enough for a responsible child, when he or she digests it, it completes itself”. It is the Yoruba way of saying a word is enough for the wise. Proverbs are an integral part of the African culture as they convey wisdom, truth, and deliver specific messages about life and survival. They are also known to be the most effective way to communicate salient meanings which can be used figuratively and Idiomatically to express non-literal meaning attached to a phrase.
The themes in my paintings are due to my experiences in Nigerian culture and society. As a child who grew up in the southwestern region of Nigeria known to be dominated by the Yoruba tribe, Proverbs are wise sayings to teach historical lessons, highlight good morals, and instill social values. My parents adopted some of these Yoruba proverbs as the most effective way to communicate and discipline me as a child. Although they are mostly short and figurative sentences, my parents believed it was the most effective way to communicate with me as a child. It serves as the foundation and guidelines to navigate, as I make decisions and choices in life.
Using proverbs as a tool to discuss some of my experiences while growing up in the Yoruba society, I inculcate patterns, symbols, and motifs of the traditional Yoruba and Adinkra cultures of Nigeria and Ghana respectively to further narrate these experiences. I express these proverbs, experiences, and ideas into geometric shapes, organic shapes and colors. The colors in my work are vibrant but carefully selected and arranged in order to support the narrative of each piece. These are adapted in the entire composition of my painting by interpreting these proverbs into the reality of Nigerian society. I presently paint in oil on Medium and large-scale canvas as I am dedicated to exploring these paths as my art transitions.