Untitled 

Editor: This untitled ink drawing is by Laolu Senbanjo, and it immediately strikes me as both powerful and intensely spiritual. The central figure seems to be emerging or radiating outwards. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's the Yoruba idea of Osun, the orisha of the river, fertility, sensuality and beauty. The river's flow echoes in the radiating patterns around the central figure, doesn't it? Note how the patterns become faces—perhaps ancestors, spirits, or facets of Osun herself? Editor: Absolutely. I’m drawn to the repeating faces—some have calm expressions while others are almost grimacing. What does this contrast signify? Curator: Consider Yoruba cosmology: everything has duality. Osun is both nurturing and fiercely protective. The faces could represent different aspects of her power or different moments and reflections in the river. Are those images near her left shoulder bottles, combs, mirrors? All potent elements associated with Osun worship! How interesting they are! Editor: It is so interesting! And what about the golden color of Osun's skin, sharply distinct from the black and white? Curator: That’s about transformative power. Gold, *úro* in Yoruba, suggests divine radiance and enduring worth, also *wealth*. Laolu Senbanjo uses symbols, here the ink and pigment itself, to reveal enduring qualities. Each stroke carries cultural weight! Can you appreciate how the past reverberates here, with the cultural practices embedded within the pattern? Editor: Yes, I understand now. It's not just an image; it’s a living symbol, rich with layered meanings. Thank you for unraveling the history and symbolism. Curator: It's been a mutual journey, understanding the artwork. The real delight lies in seeing these potent traditions continued and refreshed in contemporary practice.