CANDIED AURA - AURA CANDY
CANDIED AURA - AURA CANDY
An Artistic Collaboration between S.A.W. x MetroMan Co
This series is reminiscent to an Adult's Joy. Expressing the joy of emotions such as connectedness, euphoria, love, transitions and manifestations. A way in which the artist broke down the events of the period in his life, into a series to exemplify his personal growth as a multidisciplinary artist, an aficionado, a student of the esoteric and purveyor of the luxury lifestyle of art.
Made with the growing Nigerian diasporan , middle-class in mind, perfect for both living and work spaces. Tapping into his Edo- Yoruba-African Roots coupled with his love for Jackson Pollock’s Action Art and expressions in Afro futurism. SAW further delved into a contemporary expression of the traditional nuances of the divine feminine and our intrinsically African matriarchal traditions as eschewed by our grandmother’s, mothers, aunts and all who came before them. Each generation of women who used these same techniques to express on walls for thousands of years.
The pieces were created after his second stint with his performance art brothers and sisters at dance gathering in 2019 and the realisation he was feeling of the sweetness of loving another persons energy and personality in ways he had never experienced before.
The pieces truly encapsulate the “candy land” state of mind at the time, they are painted with the strokes and splashing induced with the artist’s capoeira, dance, JKD and tai chi movements, the shadow traces reveal, where the coloured glass paint intersects in tiers over the acrylic paint.
A sort of, wax on and wax off juxtapose, one could say. A convergence of emotions, experimentation, growth, technique and the soul of culture, her-story, history and identity on paper.
The artist says that the series and it’s apt subtitles: Candy Rain, Candy Joy, Candy Man I & II. Are a culmination of the sweetness of life’s journeys, passions and the joys of love once realised and through the colours and art pieces a series of emotions actualised.
Shop series here
MEET: S.A.W
S.A.W photographed by Tijani Ogunlende in Lagos, Nigeria wearing Privé Metroman Co Linen Co-ord
His signature use of commonplace household items, patterned objects and weapons training tools as paint brushes, creates a distinct imprint on the canvass or surface of choice. He flows diligently with bamboo strips, broomsticks, boktos, kitchen knives and even the ewedu broom. Which he often uses with dexterity to create patterns, splashes, shadow strikes, strokes, etchings and his characteristic paint splatters, that is very reminiscent of Jackson Pollock’s action art, pointillism and sacred rites of Yoruba femininity. This rings true to his vision of finding immeasurable value and beauty in the seemingly mundane. In his practice and life path, nothing is wasted, everything is useful.
His live-painting performances are a sight to behold, a concerto of fluid capoeira movements, his love of dance, JKD, music genres, Tai -chi and Qi Gong. A testament to his eso and exoteric lifestyle, giving utmost attention and care to his body-mind-soul unions. His paintings become a mirror inflection and reflection so to speak of his warrior - scholar lifestyle and his ongoing conversations with his new reality as a returnee.
SAW delivers on quality works, that reflect the anthropological, cultural and sacredness of the African continent in a fresh and contemporary way. His process ensures that each work of art is exquisitely unique, and dispels any opportunity for piracy and easy digital reproduction. The wet paintings once dry set, become hues of conversations and portals to harness wellness ultimately.
His art works are being housed by architects, collectors and martial arts enthusiasts across the globe. From London to Lagos and everywhere in between, he has also evolved his studio practice in recent years to leanings in art advisory, brand identity and interior design embellishments, by virtue of his background in architecture and project management.
He is a creative pioneer finalist in the UK 2012, an NAC finalist in Nigeria 2016, he is a member of the SNA, PIN, a number of art collectives and has participated in private and public group shows, international performance weekends via Dance Gathering 2018-2020, and has had a multidisciplinary solo exhibition titled “Memoirs of a Black Box” to his credit.
He is currently working on private commissions and film projects, consulting as an Art Director and African martial arts fight choreographer, these experiences are now forming the basis of his upcoming group and next solo exhibition respectively.
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