Today, our generation has become increasingly dependent on our smart phones and other handheld devices.
During every free moment in our busy lives, we may be texting friends, checking mail or keeping up with our
social networking page(s). In other words, relying less on ‘real-life’ face-to-face contact and interaction.
It can be fascinating to watch how people have their faces glued to the screens of their handheld devices,
especially when on the platform at train stations, in restaurants, at events and even when supposedly in
conversations with others.
Oju is the Yoruba word for eye. It is also the same word for face. The face is a very important window to the
essence of an individual. The live face that is… not an inanimate “facebook” or “instagram” face amongst the
collection of photos in a “friend’s” profile – indeed some of which may have been doctored.
The title of this show is Oju. It is inspired partly by my fascination with these socio-cultural developments
within the context of a generation.
Furthermore, being a figurative artist, I see a face as a landscape. Especially when emotions can be discerned
therein. In a sense, valleys, mountains, rivers and indeed other geographical and physical features, each
allegorical with it’s own respective set of differing opportunities, can all be present in a face.
The more you look at a person’s face, the more you begin to realise that what you see is not actually that
person, but a transit point. An interface. This is that which helps you to register, in one moment out of
eternity, whether by means of a smile, frown or whatever, an understanding of who and what lies beneath.
This exhibition is one result of these observations and thoughts. I am thankful for inspiration and great health
to be able to share my work.
Thank you for viewing the collection.
Gbenga Orimoloye
March, 2013