Odò Iyè

Artwork story

Oil on Canvas, (150 x 93 CM) landscape. A quiet river reflects the sky and and surrounding trees. Tall grasses line the banks, dark green trees frame the view, and a blooming red shrub glows on the far side, its reflection bleeding into the water. Capturing pure nature, heritage memory and continuity of life.

"Odò Iyè means" River of Life, inspired by my Yoruba heritage and Fictionally set in the ancient Èkó (Lagos) I painted this piece to summon and hold the presence of peace. In old Èkó, rivers were roads and life itself, before vehicles and traffic. This quiet river holds everything – sky,trees,the red shrub as blood and life. I painted water as mirror to show life keeps flowing and reflecting, even when quiet.
It is Èkó before concrete, when water was life.