OLUWAFEMI AFOLABI ...the chiropteric painter
Artist Statement
To be precise, my art is my means of self-expression, the reflection of my community, and the
appreciation of nature; an avenue to capture and narrate the untold stories of many who dwell at the
other side of affluence. Furthermore, my craft seeks to draw attention to the interesting world of
women and everything that surrounds them. i.e., her likes, beauty, struggles, indescribable love for
children and her intriguingly complex emotional entanglements in such a compelling manner
Given that I am an otherwise introverted fellow, the blank canvass becomes my platform to identify
with the downtrodden and encourage the fearful. My meticulous renditions intentionally speak of
hope and a brighter tomorrow as taught by the holy scriptures, notwithstanding today's uncertainties and doubts.
My non-conforming, predominantly - life paintings relentlessly longs to encourage, inspire, and
motivate the ones who aren’t born with the proverbial silver spoon around the world; the dudes who
aren’t raised within the royal courts and the folks who had no privilege of being nursed in glass
houses, to believe that the unbiased Creator has not forgotten anyone and tomorrow speaks
of better things if the chin is raised and hope is sustained.Inspiration
Firstly, I’m being constantly challenged and inspired by nature; the manifold and unsearchable works
of God. I’m also always keen to inform the downtrodden that tomorrow has something good to offer.
My personal life experiences also inspires me. In a nutshell, my art is inspired by my constant urge to
preach hope and put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged.
Thinking Process
Anytime I grab my tools to work, the inspirations and directions seems to pounce on me from
nowhere. However, deep down and firmly rooted in me, is the urge to showcase that although weeping
may endure for a night, joy surely comes in the morning. For instance, the unpalatable images of the
poor that I have seen, the pictures of struggling orphans that roam the streets and the beautiful
smile of a lady who has just been found by love after a long period of waiting all influences my
thinking pattern to produce my typical kind of works.
My technique;
the reflection of the chiropteric Bats
I humbly admit that my unique technique is one of the main factors that draws traffic to my paintings
and the inquisitive minds never stop asking, “why bats” and “how are they created”?
It all starts from the sketch pad; that is where the preliminary thinking is done before pouncing on
my satisfactorily primed canvass. Then I sketch the image in my pad on the canvass and paint the
figure (skin – covered area) first with shaded green before carving out my bat images with the use of
tinted green; artistically laying them on the semi-fermented shaded green. And sometimes, I do a
mesh print on the figure wherever necessary and then paint the African fabric, popularly known as
“Ankara” as clothe. Not forgetting the reddish-brown beads on necks to reflect the African culture.
The Bats?
Ordinarily in the African context, the bats have been somehow managed to be seen as a mysterious
or possessed specie of birds; they’ve been called creepy, scary and spooky but I wouldn’t want anyone
to see them in that light with regards to my paintings. Flip to the other side of the narration and see
that bats, according to scientists, are amazing; the only true flying mammal. Bats are comfortable
with walking on the earth as well as flying high in the sky while raising children at the same time.
Flowing from this discovery, I recall and commend my Mum who doubles as both parent for me after
the untimely demise of my father. Hence, the chiroptic mammal that is reflected in almost all my
paintings is in her honour and that is the philosophy behind the predominance of bats in my paintings.
I hope that your curiosity is satisfied.
Medium/tools
As a painter, the canvass and colour pigments are my major medium. Hence, you’re bound to find at my
studios the acrylic/oil paint, brushes, canvasses, mesh for printing, the palette and its knife with a
few other improvised substances like the green leaf (sometimes used alongside green paint) and the
“Ankara” fabrics (sometimes used alone/alongside paints) to depict the clothed area of my figure.
Exhibitions and Catalogues
I have been privileged to participate in a handful of art
shows which includes but not limited to;
* Hampstead Big Fair, London UK (2024)
* Hampstead Summer Festival, London UK (2024)
* Thing of Beauty, London UK (2024)
* Art Fair, Ibadan Nigeria (2024)
* Life In My City Art festival, Enugun Nigeria (2023)
* Inside Out; See beyound Seeing, Ondo State Nigeria (2022)
* Art Fair “chronical” Ondo State Nigeria (2022)
* Forgotten Identity, Artsy (2022)
* Fashion, An Instant Language, Artsy (2022)
* Life In My City Festival (LIMCAF) Enugun Nigeria (2022)
* Arnheim Collection Art Exhibition, Ibadan, Nigeria (2022)
* Life In My City Festival (LIMCAF), Ibadan, Nigeria (2021)
* LASGIDI Art Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria (2021)
Aspiration and Trajectory
I aim to follow in the footsteps of successful Nigerian and African Artists who are positively
impacting the continent and the world at large with their craft while simultaneously raising the
Next-Gen of creative minds. To achieve that, I shall be focused and resilient. Within a short
period, I foresee my paintings at monumental places of importance in the local and
global landscape while decking several homes and offices with my creations.
To be precise, my art is my means of self-expression, the reflection of my community, and the
appreciation of nature; an avenue to capture and narrate the untold stories of many who dwell at the
other side of affluence. Furthermore, my craft seeks to draw attention to the interesting world of
women and everything that surrounds them. i.e., her likes, beauty, struggles, indescribable love for
children and her intriguingly complex emotional entanglements in such a compelling manner
Given that I am an otherwise introverted fellow, the blank canvass becomes my platform to identify
with the downtrodden and encourage the fearful. My meticulous renditions intentionally speak of
hope and a brighter tomorrow as taught by the holy scriptures, notwithstanding today's uncertainties and doubts.
My non-conforming, predominantly - life paintings relentlessly longs to encourage, inspire, and
motivate the ones who aren’t born with the proverbial silver spoon around the world; the dudes who
aren’t raised within the royal courts and the folks who had no privilege of being nursed in glass
houses, to believe that the unbiased Creator has not forgotten anyone and tomorrow speaks
of better things if the chin is raised and hope is sustained.Inspiration
Firstly, I’m being constantly challenged and inspired by nature; the manifold and unsearchable works
of God. I’m also always keen to inform the downtrodden that tomorrow has something good to offer.
My personal life experiences also inspires me. In a nutshell, my art is inspired by my constant urge to
preach hope and put smiles on the faces of the underprivileged.
Thinking Process
Anytime I grab my tools to work, the inspirations and directions seems to pounce on me from
nowhere. However, deep down and firmly rooted in me, is the urge to showcase that although weeping
may endure for a night, joy surely comes in the morning. For instance, the unpalatable images of the
poor that I have seen, the pictures of struggling orphans that roam the streets and the beautiful
smile of a lady who has just been found by love after a long period of waiting all influences my
thinking pattern to produce my typical kind of works.
My technique;
the reflection of the chiropteric Bats
I humbly admit that my unique technique is one of the main factors that draws traffic to my paintings
and the inquisitive minds never stop asking, “why bats” and “how are they created”?
It all starts from the sketch pad; that is where the preliminary thinking is done before pouncing on
my satisfactorily primed canvass. Then I sketch the image in my pad on the canvass and paint the
figure (skin – covered area) first with shaded green before carving out my bat images with the use of
tinted green; artistically laying them on the semi-fermented shaded green. And sometimes, I do a
mesh print on the figure wherever necessary and then paint the African fabric, popularly known as
“Ankara” as clothe. Not forgetting the reddish-brown beads on necks to reflect the African culture.
The Bats?
Ordinarily in the African context, the bats have been somehow managed to be seen as a mysterious
or possessed specie of birds; they’ve been called creepy, scary and spooky but I wouldn’t want anyone
to see them in that light with regards to my paintings. Flip to the other side of the narration and see
that bats, according to scientists, are amazing; the only true flying mammal. Bats are comfortable
with walking on the earth as well as flying high in the sky while raising children at the same time.
Flowing from this discovery, I recall and commend my Mum who doubles as both parent for me after
the untimely demise of my father. Hence, the chiroptic mammal that is reflected in almost all my
paintings is in her honour and that is the philosophy behind the predominance of bats in my paintings.
I hope that your curiosity is satisfied.
Medium/tools
As a painter, the canvass and colour pigments are my major medium. Hence, you’re bound to find at my
studios the acrylic/oil paint, brushes, canvasses, mesh for printing, the palette and its knife with a
few other improvised substances like the green leaf (sometimes used alongside green paint) and the
“Ankara” fabrics (sometimes used alone/alongside paints) to depict the clothed area of my figure.
Exhibitions and Catalogues
I have been privileged to participate in a handful of art
shows which includes but not limited to;
* Hampstead Big Fair, London UK (2024)
* Hampstead Summer Festival, London UK (2024)
* Thing of Beauty, London UK (2024)
* Art Fair, Ibadan Nigeria (2024)
* Life In My City Art festival, Enugun Nigeria (2023)
* Inside Out; See beyound Seeing, Ondo State Nigeria (2022)
* Art Fair “chronical” Ondo State Nigeria (2022)
* Forgotten Identity, Artsy (2022)
* Fashion, An Instant Language, Artsy (2022)
* Life In My City Festival (LIMCAF) Enugun Nigeria (2022)
* Arnheim Collection Art Exhibition, Ibadan, Nigeria (2022)
* Life In My City Festival (LIMCAF), Ibadan, Nigeria (2021)
* LASGIDI Art Exhibition, Lagos, Nigeria (2021)
Aspiration and Trajectory
I aim to follow in the footsteps of successful Nigerian and African Artists who are positively
impacting the continent and the world at large with their craft while simultaneously raising the
Next-Gen of creative minds. To achieve that, I shall be focused and resilient. Within a short
period, I foresee my paintings at monumental places of importance in the local and
global landscape while decking several homes and offices with my creations.
