MEET
Tosin Paul Ajayi
Tosin Paul Ajayi, hailing from Akure, Ondo State, found inspiration in the multifaceted dynamics of life that unfolded around him during his upbringing. From the ever-persistent social issues such as marginalization and gender inequality to the profound ideals he developed concerning love and history, he discovered that art was the ideal medium for expressing his thoughts and ideologies.
Tosin's chosen canvas, acrylic paint, became the vehicle through which he could educate and represent these ideals. He embarked on a creative journey characterized by a fascination with beauty achieved through the interplay of rectilinear and curvilinear forms.
One of the defining features of Tosin's art is the deliberate distortion and dissection of anatomical structures into formal and informal elements. This artistic approach is intricately tied to the thematic focus of each series of work he undertakes. By incorporating appropriation, text, and the shared experiences of his muses related to the specific theme at hand, he strives to express his intuition from another person's perspective.
Tosin's art seamlessly oscillates between two distinct but interconnected extremes. On one end, there is abstract stylization, where he employs abstraction to convey his message. On the other, there is a quasi naturalism that captures the essence of the subject matter in a way that is reminiscent of reality.
His artistic style draws inspiration from a rich tapestry of influences, including 16th-century African sculptural pieces and the early 19th-century Cubist movement, with Pablo Picasso as a prominent figure. These influences infuse his work with a unique blend of tradition and modernity.
Tosin Paul Ajayi's dedication to his craft culminated in the attainment of a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Benin, where he specialized in painting from 2019 to 2021. His art continues to serve as a medium for exploration, expression, and a profound commentary on the world around him.
