Wole Lagunju Nigerian, b. 1966
Yemoja and the Dream of Monet's Water Lillies, 2021
Oil on Canvas
63 x 46.5 inches
It's widely known that Picasso was inspired by African masks, resulting in an entirely new style of modernism. What Wole Lagunju proposes in this work, "Yemoja and the Dream of Monet's Water Lilies," is that perhaps Western art drew inspiration beyond the physical - but from the spiritual and imaginative as well.
A common theme in Yoruba artistic practice, evidenced in the work of luminaries such as Nike Davies Okundaye and X K Oloruntoba, is the spiritual transference that can occur in dreams, somehting Lagunju experiences himself. This work presumes that perhaps Yemoja, the goddess of water, has bestowed a dream to Monet to inspire his famous Water Lillies.
The work captures the water goddess in a stunning traditional Gelede mask, juxtaposed with the light and airy tapestry inspired by Monet's water lilies.
It's widely known that Picasso was inspired by African masks, resulting in an entirely new style of modernism. What Wole Lagunju proposes in this work, "Yemoja and the Dream of Monet's Water Lilies," is that perhaps Western art drew inspiration beyond the physical - but from the spiritual and imaginative as well.
A common theme in Yoruba artistic practice, evidenced in the work of luminaries such as Nike Davies Okundaye and X K Oloruntoba, is the spiritual transference that can occur in dreams, somehting Lagunju experiences himself. This work presumes that perhaps Yemoja, the goddess of water, has bestowed a dream to Monet to inspire his famous Water Lillies.
The work captures the water goddess in a stunning traditional Gelede mask, juxtaposed with the light and airy tapestry inspired by Monet's water lilies.