Artist Àsìkò, born Ade Okelarin, is on a mission to celebrate and explore his Yoruba cultural heritage through his stunning photography and mixed media art. With a blend of traditional and modern techniques, Àsìkò's work is a testament to the beauty and richness of Yoruba culture.
Growing up in Nigeria and later moving to the UK, Àsìkò's journey as an artist has been about deconstructing previous knowledge and understanding his heritage. His recent series, "Guardians" and "Of Myth and Legend," delve into the iconography of Yoruba deities, or "Òrìshàs." These sacred beings with divine powers continue to be revered beyond West Africa, and Àsìkò's work draws connections between global mythologies.
Àsìkò's portraits and images of Òrìshàs combine traditional photography with artificial intelligence, digital editing, and collaging. His research has revealed similarities between Yoruba and Western mythology, such as the Yoruba deity Sango and Norse god Thor, both deities of thunder and lightning. This blending of cultures and techniques has opened up new imaginative possibilities for Àsìkò.
The premise of his work is "looking back to look forward," understanding where Africans come from as a society and carving a future shaped by cultural ideology and aesthetics. Àsìkò believes that Westernization is not the answer to advancement, and that a blend of cultural heritage and modernity is necessary to maintain identity and societal structures.
Raising awareness about socio-political issues affecting his community is another important aspect of Àsìkò's work. His journey, culture, and experiences as a Yoruba man living in the UK are the lifeblood of his art, which has covered topics such as female genital mutilation, masculinity, mysticism, identity, and race.
Àsìkò's mythological imagery, as well as other projects, utilize layering, with subjects adorned in layers of African beads and jewelry. He also uses digital rendering, layering photographs with aspects of his cultural heritage, such as fabric and textures. This blending of processes has allowed him to experiment and grow as an artist.
Some of Àsìkò's new possibilities include painting and sculptural work. He recently created a globe artwork for the World Re-imagined project, a British art history education project around the transatlantic slave trade. His work has exhibited in the UK, Nigeria, and the US, and he recently launched his first set of NFTs with the Bridge gallery, a fine art NFT photography gallery.
With work that reaches into the past and continues to evolve, Àsìkò remains open to experimentation and growth. His cultural heritage is a big part of his identity, and he believes it is a strength. Through his art, Àsìkò is celebrating the beauty and resonance of Yoruba culture, and inspiring others to do the same.
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