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“Adébayo Bolaji describes his style of painting as a form of psychoanalysis. Rich with references to personal history, as well as cultural notes from his Nigerian heritage and home city, London…His painting has gained a massive following, especially among younger audiences on #Instagram. It might be the honest juvenility of his approach that attracts those looking to break away from traditional techniques. He describes his process as a kind of liberating “play” where, “you have to come into a room and say I know nothing.” He continues, “I know it sounds pretentious but it’s more enjoyable when you can let go.” Bolaji’s strong emphasis on following and trusting the line is certainly ludic. Doodle-like scribbles and marks of colour metamorphose throughout the process…Both Freud and Winnicott cite play as a means of healing: it allows for the expression and reconciliation of unconscious emotions and anxieties. It is an apt metaphor for Bolaji’s paintings, for play transgresses the barrier between the individual’s inner world and the world outside.” His own works also grapple with the subconscious in front of the viewer. “[When I work] it feels like something is struggling to get out. It almost feels like it hates me at that time, like it wants to fight”, he explains.”

-Tank Magazine


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