Royalty (The palace splendor) - 2021
Oil on Canvas | 89 x 79 cm
From the Artist :
"This artwork represents the power and grandeur of a kingdom influenced by the Hausa ethnic group in Northern Nigeria. It showcases a majestic cavalry of horses and skilled riders, which is a symbol of wealth and authority usually reserved for kings and the wealthy elite during royal events. The main idea behind this theme is to depict the notions of power and political leadership."
From the Curator:
"This abstract style featuring dynamic brushstrokes and intricate knife work, creates a sense of motion on the canvas. The red palette varies from deep maroon-like tones to fiery oranges including touches of blue, evoking intensity and passion. The layered and textural brushstrokes provide depth and energy capturing the essence of this regal tradition."
Sold
About the artist
John Oyedemi, hailing from South Nigeria was born in 1966, resides and practises in Bukuru. Graduating from the Department of Fine Arts at the renowned Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Oyedemi perceives art as a means for individuals to construct an alternative reality, offering a second perspective on existence through imagination.
Currently a lecturer at the University of Jos, his Durbar paintings illustrate "Padanci" in the Hausa language, vivid portraits of wealth and power.
He spent his early years in the market selling any item that could bring money, "it was an exciting moment in life with so many stories to tell today", he recalls.
He likes to combine the impasto colour technique for thematic analysis of the events, combined with an impressionist approach to his subjects, to bring the very essence of the moment to the fore. Over the last 25 years, he has expressed his passion for North Nigeria's scenery and royalties through his iconic equestrian and Durbar scenes.
Choose options