Symbolic Expressionism... Afolake’s technique is symbolic of self, her experiences and her perception of the world. It represents an ideology, an experience, a lesson, bits and pieces of which in her words “merges to make a whole”. It constitutes a visual puzzle whereby she tries to alter the viewers’ perception of reality. The subject therefore becomes bigger and greater than what first hits the eye.
The very premise behind this technique (which Afolake coins “symbolic expressionism”) and consequently these set of images is the fact that things are not what they seem at first glance. It forces the viewers to step back and look beyond what first hits the viewers’ eyes . Then and only then can the viewer observe the subject for what it really is and see beauty in even the simplest of things or situation. They begin to look beyond the outside appearance and the superficial situation and circumstance. They discover that this “slab of color” represents an idea, and a perception in the painting. The more they step back, the more they begin to see, comprehend and perceive it in a new light.
Afolake believes that this is life. She sees this technique as her way of hypnotizing the viewer because she makes them work for what they get out of it; this calls for an interaction between the viewer and the painting. An interaction that transcends the 5 senses and connects the view the “the higher” self making them have a sense of reverence; sympathize and empathize with the subject, situation or reality rather than judge, criticize and condemn as humans inherently do.
What Inspires My Works
Generally speaking, I paint a particular subject if and only if I bond with it. It could be in the way my subject is posed or the expression on the face of my subject; it could also be the reflection of light, color composition, or even the message the come across to me. Bottom line my creativity stems from the union that forms between me and my subject. My desire to paint is determined by certain unique appeal of a particular subject and the specific emotion evoked at that given time. This is why I like to take pictures of my subjects. I believe this captures that certain uniqueness of it, sporadically or programmed.
My subject could be very simplistic or intricate; either way there is always an underlying message that “there is always more than what just hits the eye if you look close enough”. It is always pregnant with meaning. My pictures almost always end up on a canvas because to me, it completes and perfect my process of art, my idea and my creativity. It becomes my total creation, my world.
Mission Statement
Great and successful writers and poets express themselves through their words. They serve humanity and send their message across through their writing. Actors, scientists, designers, and artists do the same through their expressive design/blueprint, imagination, fantasy and inventions. I believe that art is life and art is life. My works are very expressive of who I am, what I am feeling, my experiences, lessons, and perception of the world. My paintings are a representation of what the world is, how the world should be, a world in the state of perfection and balance (and how to get there) through my eyes. It is my own little way of providing service to humanity.
I am inspired by great writers like Caroline Mars, Wayne Dyer etc. who promote spirituality rather than what we see and touch Co-operation rather than competition. My mission is to represent spirituality through my art.
My New Project...
Fashion Statement (work in progress)
“Fashion Statement” is used as a metaphor for “cultural uniqueness” and “cultural relativism” (whichis the principle that an individual human's beliefs and activities make sense in terms of his or her own culture). I challenge and force the viewer to ask questions as:
Who defines who you are? What is considered fashion? What is considered normal and appropriate? What is considered backward and why? Who defines culture/fashion and why? Who defines what fashion and culture is superior or inferior to another? What are the criteria used to define superiority or inferiority and why? Are these criteria valid?
Culture is the way of life; values, norms and beliefs unique to a group of people. This uniqueness is reflected in every sphere of their lives including the way they dress, how they dress it, when and why.
I accentuates the uniqueness of African culture with the use of images with very ethnic features, traditional African clothing and accessories like lip plates, tribal marks, tribal hair styles, masks, beads etc, (used as symbols for Africa ness/African pride/heritage). It therefore becomes a metaphor for the phenomenon of culture/Fashion as being unique; cultural identity and pride; at the same time it becomes a paradox as I use the American/Western, high tech, multibillion dollar industry of fashion/modeling (by using famous American model poses, fashion runways, cat walks, fashion shows and fashion audience) to drive the point home and to force viewers to see and react to culture and fashion for what it is, “unique” and “relative”; and for every culture (especially African culture which has really gotten some bad press over the centuries) to be seen as beautiful just like the Western fashion industry models, and Celebes who represent and iconize the Western fashion and culture.
By creating the these images in the likeness of the cat walks, runways poses of Western fashion models (who flaunt and exhibit Western culture), and incorporating a Western audience (as it is in fashion shows), I bring to light my vision for the world; elevating the status of my subjects while at the same time challenging the ways in which African culture/fashion have been documented i.e. crude, backward and always relegated to the background.
