Abiyamo Tooto 2017

Laolu Senbanjo made this painting, Abiyamo Tooto, using acrylic on canvas. What strikes me first is the striking contrast of black and white, which is so bold. Look closely, and you'll see how the white isn't just a flat color, but a canvas for all these swirling patterns, like a story being written on skin. There are faces hidden, or maybe not so hidden, within these markings. It’s like the painting is alive, breathing with its own secret language. I love how the lines thicken and thin, creating a rhythm that moves your eye around the canvas. It’s almost like a dance. There's a sense of immediacy here, a feeling that Senbanjo was working quickly, letting the paint flow and the patterns emerge organically. This piece reminds me a little of some of the work of Keith Haring. Both artists share that energy, that sense of art as a direct expression of life.