“When I first started working in this way, I would research the “black image” wherever I could find the source. Oftentimes while doing so, I was irritated or off-put by how flattened and finite that image was…. I didn’t understand why the representations were so limited, so enclosed and, in other cases, solely in contrast to what “whiteness” as a concept was. I knew, just within and of myself, there was a wealth, a universe, of complexities and contradictions within and of me. I knew that this was not something to limit myself to but to expand upon. I wanted to express what “blackness” was in terms of its multifaceted and beautiful intricacy. Layer upon layer, upon layer…. every aspect of it as vast and awesome as the night sky….”
— Toyin Odutola.
(Journal entry. 2011)
(Journal entry. 2011)
ML/TF: Crawling along….
The latest explorations; some temporarily abandoned, some revisited.
One panel down. Three more to go.
UGH! HIs skin looks like it’s made of X-mas lights. (Face/Palm.)
© Toyin Odutola.
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II.
Slowly…
