Untitled (Play Boy) Painting

Nigerian-based contemporary african artist Paul Ayihawu uses charcoal and Acrylic to tell the story of african in a new light. His work focus more on the social-cultural issues and the impact of colonialism on african cultures and values. He expressed this often with a flipped portraitures of black people dress in a hybrid of western and african dresses. He is fervent about telling the untold, unheard and silent stories of the black community. His works are in private collections in USA, South Africa and Nigeria. Artist Statement Art is a form of expression of innermost feelings and my approach is to experiment with human forms and investigate the psychology of being, by capturing the emotional state of my subject at a particular moment and by asking: ‘how do we feel a sense of belonging in an environment that constantly tells us we are not enough?’ I find meaning in the mundane activities and exuberance scene in the neighbourhood as these bring to life the nostalgia feelings and memories. My works highlights the socio-cultural issues and the impact of colonialism on the african cultures and values. I work with charcoal and Acrylic to tell the story of african in a new light. I particularly love rendering the flesh tones in charcoal while all other parts are covered with vibrant colours and often place my figures in abstract background made with feathers. I use my art as a form of activism to challenge the contemporary issues in the society.