Abiola Olabamiji
See Beyond 1
2022

About the Item

I stared at the man with keen interest, hoping to know more about what life has in store for me. The man looked at me sternly, and I couldn’t be more convinced he had seen everything, including my afterlife. A strange language jolted me back to reality as I realized the lady in the room had arrived at the intersection where "Malaicha" and other spirits were. I watched in confusion as the man quickly scribbled down what appeared to be an interpretation of the foreign tongue. My patience dwindled per second as the man kept penning down words. To shorten a long story short, the interpretation was presented in bold letters. My background was also written as additional proof of the veracity of the "spirit." I became eager to know the way forward. "Abeg, Sir, and Ma help my life." "I want to come out of my family's shackles and enemies," I pleaded. They exchanged a knowing look as if they’d been anticipating this moment. My pockets started running dry while my anxiety spiked. I was told to join their religion and denominations. Of course, it’s preferable to go from "God" to "God" in spiritual warfare. I wish to go back to the point of ignorance, where no one was after my life and every day was another day to conquer. A few months later, I realized that to see beyond any circumstances, we must be at ease and calm; we are better able to discern people’s motivations. To see beyond is to see with our inner eyes rather than filthy, unknown eyes. To see beyond is to remain steadfast in personal prayer and to hold out hope that your prayers will be heard. To see beyond is to see beyond the limitations of flesh, realizing that you are gods. Shipping Procedure Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery) About Artist Abiola was born in 1992, in Odo-ona Elewe, Ibadan, Nigeria. He was trained and mentored by Mr. Tope Fatunmbi at the Topfat Art Gallery, Adamasingba, Ibadan, Nigeria. Chuck Close greatly inspires Abiola. He began his professional practice in 2021. Having thoroughly explored various creative mediums, he discovered a passion for portraying the inner hardships and resilience of an African man and their full expression while chasing dreams and aspirations, as seen in his brush strokes. Abiola Abdulwareez Olabamiji's paintings portray an innovative approach with delicate attention to his subject’s skin, depicted in black hues defined by palm frond patterns, texture, and mark-making in brown, purple, and green that showcase the contemporary life of an African man. He executed his portrait figures in oil and acrylic on canvas. He gives a metaphysical expression of the importance, dignity, and stability of black culture in its various forms and aims to bring back African "most especially" Yoruba philosophy into the Renaissance through his art. "In my paintings, I use the texture of palm fronds on the skin to represent the palm tree's qualities. I believe black life is like a palm tree: strong against powerful storms and winds, with all of its parts playing a crucial role. Hence, an African man is strong and important in every aspect," he says. Abiola’s subjects gaze with unwavering firmness at a distance and with a stern disposition, provoking viewers' curiosity about what caught the figures' interest while enabling viewers to give different interpretations that correspond to their life journeys. His works have developed from large-scale neoexpressionistic paintings into a process of experimental appropriation. As a neglected African child, his artistic path can be traced back to his childhood experiences and his use of art as solace to depict his subjective inner experiences. His love for art brewed from his elementary school while watching a neighbor’s artistic skills bring smiles to his and his friends' faces.

Creator:

Abiola Olabamiji (1992, Nigerian)

Creation Year:

2022

Dimensions:

Height: 60 in (152.4 cm)Width: 48 in (121.92 cm)Depth: 1 in (2.54 cm)

Medium:

Canvas,Mixed Media,Oil,Acrylic

Movement & Style:

Expressionist

Period:

21st Century