There is a saying that ‘some artists help us perceive the world more precisely. A rare few go further. They look beyond looking. Theirs is a deeper reality, more felt than seen.’ IyunOla Sanyaolu, like Claude Monet, is one of the artists who provide extra eyes for people to see.
On Saturday, October 26, 2024, Rele Gallery, Lagos, hosted IyunOla’s second solo, which is a natural progression on the themes of human decisions, solitary reflections, and transient experiences, which characterised her debut show.
IyunOla, who was awarded ‘Female Visual Artist of the Year’ 2018 in her graduating year, is a strong abstract painter, who is deeply inspired by the techniques used by Western painters, infusing light and texture in ways that, admirers say, evokes a profound sense of calmness. Her practice is primarily informed by an exploration of texture and sculptural possibilities. In the new show, titled, How To Hold A Moonbeam: How Do You Hold Memory? IyunOla sets her easel to transient nature of humanity, providing extra eye to see the deep.
