I specialise in screen printing, oil, acrylic, fabric collage, and photography. I paint faceless family portraits to represent that I do not know these people personally, and so that the audience can connect with this idea by placing themselves or their family in my paintings. I use Dutch wax fabric, tribal, for example, traditional African and Oceanic art, British textiles, such as William Morris designs, and my imagination. These are to represent the influence of these cultures on my identity, and to challenge peoples’ assumptions about what is African textile. I want my art to overwhelm the viewer with patterns and to transport them into my world of patterns. I do this by making kaleidoscopic paintings and making patterned installations. I also want my work to be like a Rorschach test, and allow people to personally interpret the different shapes and symbols.
2021
oil, oil pastels, acrylic, tissue papers, fabrics, and screen print on canvas
90.0 x 95.0cm
IP2120
Text & images © Abi Ola
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Gold Rain by Abi Ola
The Ingram Prize 2021
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