Description
Medium: Acrylic on panel
Size: 30X40 inches
Year: 2023
(Published in The London Free Press – March/28/2023)
Artist: Olukayode Ojo
Description: The Counsellors is a compelling exploration of wisdom, collective guidance, and the weight of ancestral knowledge. The artist utilizes his signature cubist-influenced style to present three central figures whose forms overlap and intertwine, suggesting a singular, unified consciousness. The complexity of the linework and the fragmented facial features evoke the intricate nature of human thought and the many layers of perspective required to provide true counsel. Set against a soft, seafoam green background with golden accents, the figures appear as timeless sentinels of truth.
The painting is alive with a sophisticated interplay of cool purples and blues against warm oranges and reds, creating a visual rhythm that feels both ancient and contemporary. The heavy, contemplative eyes of the subjects draw the viewer into a space of deep listening and introspection. Intricate patterns—dots, stripes, and golden stars—decorate the composition like spiritual markings, suggesting that these are not merely individuals, but archetypal figures representing the moral and social compass of a community.
Cultural Highlights:
The Oracle’s Gaze: The downward-cast and heavy-lidded eyes are a recurring motif in Kay’s work, symbolizing the transition from external sight to internal, spiritual vision and wisdom.
Golden Markings: The floating golden shapes and stars represent “Asé”—the West African philosophical concept through which we have the power to make things happen and produce change.
Communal Wisdom: Highlights the African traditional value of seeking the advice of elders or “counsellors” before making significant life decisions, emphasizing that no one walks their path alone.
Key Details:
Style: Geometric Abstraction & Neo-Cubism
Color Palette: Seafoam Green, Royal Purple, Electric Blue, and Terracotta
Mood: Wise, Serene, and Authoritative
