Background information

OSI AUDU PAINTING - I HAVE A LANDSCAPE IN MY HEAD

Made by: Osi Audu, 1995, Rochester, England

Materials: Pastel and graphite on paper

Museum number: N/A

In the piece 'I have a landscape in my head' Osi Audu is exploring the sensation of flight in dreams. The shape in black pastel around the outside of the painting, with stylised hands and feet, represents the figure of the dreamer. The dark rectangle of graphite symbolises the head whilst the multi-coloured striped area at the centre of the rectangle represents the experience and excitement of flight in the mind or 'inner head'. The matt surface of the pastel refers to the unconscious which absorbs all day to day experiences whilst the graphite refers to the structure of the skull that protects each person's inner world.

The work is a reference to the Yoruba concept of 'ori-inu' (literally 'inner head' in Yoruba) where the head is the seat of destiny and location of each person's private yet potent set of dreams. The life-force 'ase' (pronounced ash-ay), another Yoruba concept, is contained within all things, whether animate or inanimate. In people the head is the container for 'ase'

Osi Audu is interested in the way in which we can 'breath' life into objects with our imagination and how the shape and form of objects can therefore represent or contain our unconscious thoughts. The idea that objects can contain, channel and transform natural forces is not unique to Osi Audu's work. Many cultures in Africa like the Yoruba, Dogon, Lobi and Kongo and elsewhere such as the Caribbean share a similar view of objects.

The work of Osi Audu explores African themes using new media to reflect his personal experiences in Nigeria, the USA and England. Osi Audu was born and brought up in Nigeria and studied at the University of Ife, Nigeria where he was awarded a first class honours degree in Fine Art. He went on to the University of Georgia, USA, where he was awarded a Master of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing. He was a lecturer at the University of Benin, Nigeria, before coming to England where he works as an artist and teacher. His work has been shown in Germany, Japan, Italy, the USA and Korea and is in many public and private collections around the world.

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