On the Internet Painting

This is a large painting of a West African lady, on sturdy wood. Painted from life. The lady is surfing the internet on her laptop, the reflective glare hitting her skin. Her lips are glossy (varnished) and her body is inspired by the carvings in Yoruba sculpture (e.g. http://www.michaelbackmanltd.com/sitebuilder/images/Yoruba_Olumeye_Figure_18_-904x1320.jpg) The letters "carved" into the laptop keyboard refer to the parts of Lagos I grew up in and spent most time in. There is a funny note written on the back of the wood, which will give you a clue as to where it was sourced. The piece is ready to hang. Excerpt from an interview with Level 25 Artjournal regarding this piece: 'L25: Your piece “On the Internet” is fascinating to me, and I’ll tell you why: here we have a depiction of a nude woman in a very classical artistic pose—the type of pose artists have been painting women in for centuries. But you add a twist to the cliché by including a laptop. I love it. I love the connection you have made between the present and the past. And I also love believing that the world is going to see more of this going forward; more depictions of subjects in “classical” poses but with modern technology. Describe for us your intent behind “On the Internet,” please. MH: Thank you Sean. Technology is often present in my work but is not always seen, such as in "Daisy, With Laptop Glare" and "Izzy, With Iphone and Igbo Scars". The blue and the purple glare reflects off of their skin, and I feel this is representative of how we ourselves are affected by technology; especially the mediation experienced by emigrants and displaced people as a means to grasp something of their home or host culture, or to detach themselves from it. I personally often felt some experiences were mediated, and as such, elusive. While I am highly aware of the above, the incorporation of technology or the technological glare is also organic. I want those who sit for me to be comfortable, because that also makes me at ease to paint. I tell them to bring something they think could occupy them for the duration of the sitting and more often than not, it is something of the technological kind. Something on which they can scroll, watch, or listen. I comprehend this contrasts with and thus emphasizes the 'classical' pose in [this piece] "On the Internet". I understand the inherent link to traditional Western academic painting and the subjects usually painted, and that painting itself is primarily a European or Western tradition. By carving into this 'classical' figure in a style influenced by a West African sculpture, I want to personally claim, reverse-colonize, subvert. "On the Internet" then, is a convergence of these things.'

Painting:Acrylic on Wood

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:53.5 W x 20.1 H x 0.6 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.