SOLA OLULODE

In this new series of paintings, the artist draws on her lived-in holiday experiences whilst also referencing the fantastical realms of Yemayá, the Yoruba water deity, alongside water spirits and sirens. The result is a series of works that celebrate femininity, nature, and the transcendent power of water.

Drawing direct inspiration from her personal archive of holiday photographs taken from her trips to the Caribbean, Mallorca and Senegal, Olulode paints vivid, dreamlike scenes of herself, lovers and friends swimming and frolicking in the ocean. The broad spectrum of colour in her paintings conjure up the rich and bold hues of the ocean: cobalt blues of the ocean blend with the vibrant oranges, pinks and purples of the evening sky. Far from straightforward representations, these paintings are portals into a world where myth and memory collide, and the giddiness of water becomes an act of liberation.

At the heart of her influence is her interest in ancient mythologies, particularly Yemayá, the maternal goddess of the sea, revered across the African diaspora as a protector, nurturer, and symbol of life’s ceaseless ebb and flow. Intertwined with the presence of Yemayá is the enduring myth of sirens—otherworldly beings who exist at the intersection of allure and danger. The artist reimagines these mythical women as contemporary figures, presenting them in groups playing together or as larger-than-life beings immersed in the water. Enveloped by vibrant bursts of colour, these images of women embracing the giddiness and freedom of being in water appear mystical, untethered from earthly constraints.

Central to Olulode’s practice is her concern for Nigerian textile traditions and histories. In 2021 she attended workshops with traditional dyers in Lagos adding to her understanding of the different techniques. Her use of mediums such as wax, batik, oil bar, and impasto produce works that pay tribute to the cultural history that influences her art. In these paintings her skillful dyeing practices capture the movement of the waves, the interplay of light on the surface, the burst of energy of the figures and the fleeting magic of a sunset’s reflection. The result is a series of paintings that are at once luminous and enigmatic, offering a sense of motion and reverie that invites viewers to immerse themselves in their own imaginations.

Through lived experiences of the sea and ancient myths Olulode draws a symbolic connection to themes of renewal, femininity, and ancestral ties to water, underscoring the ocean’s enduring role as both a literal and metaphorical source of life.