03 / Facial marks / Identity / Transformation
The Puzzle Series
Portraits of Yoruba lineage marks, a tradition slowly eroding with modernisation, and what they say about who we are and how we change.
- Years
- 2022 – ongoing
- Status
- Ongoing
- Medium
- Charcoal and pastel
- Works
- 9 so far
- Theme
- Yoruba lineage marks
In modern societies, people carry their identification cards in their pockets or wallets. Among the Yoruba of southwestern Nigeria, however, lineage identification marks are etched into people’s faces.
Although the reasons for wearing facial marks are evident, there are recent studies that reveal some people who want their facial marks removed, because the scars constitute an embarrassment. It is somewhat evident today that the tradition is gradually becoming eroded, due to modernization.
This highlights an integral part of our social existence. How does the art we create reflect growth? We are in a constant state of transformation. Our lives continue to shift and evolve with every season, and the work we make tends to mirror these changes. I believe art is a reflection of the lives we live, and often serves as a deeper extension of ourselves.
By embarking on this series, I hope to bring about awareness by communicating our transformative states of being through the use of a visual language that we all understand.
Series synopsis
By embarking on this series, I hope to bring about awareness by communicating our transformative states of being through the use of a visual language that we all understand.
