Gbolahan Olanipekun, a self-taught digital artist with an emphasis on art photography, recently exhibited some works at his solo exhibition named ‘Beyond the Canvas’.
These works include nine collections of his artworks, each reflecting a distinct theme while remaining anchored in African folklore and culture. These artworks portray themes such as love, resilience, consciousness, identity, hope, strength, and nature. Gbolahan masterfully portrayed these ideas via the prism of an African, particularly the Yoruba culture.
Midnight Muse, Oju Aye, and Echoes of Drum are some of my favorite and standout pieces from this exhibition. Other pieces on display include Heritage Unveiled, Nature’s Flow, The Optimist, Fierce Woman, Redemption, and Undiluted Love.
Oju Aye is a Yoruba phrase that literally means “Eyes of the World.” The artwork expresses the Yoruba culture’s spiritual belief that we are being watched by those who both love and detest us. Oju Aye refers to those who despise us yet pretend to love us by displaying public devotion and admiration. The Yoruba people refer to these individuals as Oju Aye. People who pretend to adore us but secretly detest us. They follow our every step and know what we do. In most cases, they are not even friends and do not publicly express their appreciation for us; instead, they are silent observers who monitor our every deed and movement.
According to the artist, Oju Aye means ‘the world is more than a mere sphere; it is a silent observer, a witness to all that unfolds’. In the spiritual framework, and according to Yoruba spiritual beliefs, the world sees and knows everything. So, if this is the case, we should be cautious about how we conduct our lives, whether they have a positive or negative impact on others.
Midnight love is a wonderful expression of self-love and femininity. The artist used a dark-skinned model who stands behind the viewers, half dressed in a white robe that exposes her back and a small piece of her breast. The artist complemented this artwork with a lovely poem that reads
“She sleeps amid the deep, quiet murmurs of the humming darkness.”
A hardly recognized muse of the night, when secrets sleep and shadows live.
Gold flickers like fire on her skin, a silent but bold and warm spark.
Night cradles her in silky silence, a story revealed in the darkness.”
This photograph also captures the beauty of the human body, a peaceful reflection on life, and the uncertainty of the future. The artist’s use of black and white intensifies these expressions, making it a piece to be admired for generations and a fantastic conversation starter for art enthusiasts.
Other works, such as Heritage Unveiled, depict aspects of Yoruba culture and tradition that are no longer practiced. The use of a type of blade to brand the face. These facial marks used to have great cultural and spiritual significance. These markings are still used in cultural shows and dance, but as white chalk paintings.
Echoes of the drum show a young man playing a drum, while nature’s flow depicts a female model in body paintings in a dance-like position. Every work shown by Gbolahan Olanipekun is a little representation of the vast and diverse Yoruba culture and heritage. They tell stories about resilience, beauty, hope, and love. A small portion of the stories.
However, I believe that if the exhibition has a single concept and the artworks on display adhere to that theme/topic, the exhibited works will be more fascinating. The artist may effectively express a certain issue based on the complex and diversified nature of African culture and tradition, allowing viewers and art enthusiasts to effortlessly relate to the work. Gbolahan shows feature a variety of works that explore various topics and themes; while wonderfully articulated, the exhibited pieces are scattered and do not reflect a specific theme of interest. Nonetheless, Gbolahan Olanipekun is a talented young digital artist to watch out for.
Reports Beyond the Mainstream 