Gelede 2017

Laolu Senbanjo created this artwork titled Gelede with a vibrant orange background, and bold blacks and whites on canvas. Imagine Senbanjo stepping up to the canvas, armed with a brush, ready to dance between intention and accident. The black paint moves with a decisive, almost graphic quality, yet there’s an undeniable sense of rhythm. Look at how the white lines trace the contours of the face, neck and chest, creating a mask-like effect. It feels like a modern interpretation of traditional body art. It makes me think about the connections between the body and the spiritual, a theme often present in his work. There’s something grounding in the physicality of applying paint to a surface, a conversation with the material itself. I love how the white lines stand out against the black, creating a push-and-pull effect. Painting can be a place where cultural heritage meets personal expression, each stroke resonating with history and identity.