Modern and Contemporary African Art: A Collaborative Vanderbilt Student Research Project

Twins Seven Seven, The Spirits of my Reincarnation Brothers and Sisters, 2007










 

In his work, The Spirits of my Reincarnation
Brothers and Sisters, he depicts a lot of his identity. This painting was
produced toward the end of his career, and he stuck to his trademarks of
depicting Yoruba beliefs and customs through a modern style. He depicts Abiko
children, the spirits of his brothers and sisters, and Yoruba spirits as well.
He uses his signature lidded spirit eyes, which he also used in part because no
one could copy them completely. He was always very fearful of people trying to
copy his works. His family band in the painting is ominous, but intricate and
bright and fantastic. He captures the viewer’s attention and brings them into
the spirit world he feels he half lives in. He was believed to be an Abiko
child, and that he was born as a twin seven times as a product of Yoruba
spirits, so his connection to the spirit world is extremely powerful. 



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