A-ARTs: Expressionist strokes of Teda amidst contemporary tide

'Fathers Day Project' (spray paint, oil, acrylic and ink on canvas, 70X70 inches, dated 2022) by Oluwatobilola Fakile (Teda). PIC: c/o artist.

FROM the pool of traditional and contemporary art, Oluwatobiloba Fakile brings expressionist portraiture that examine mythology of self-assessment. The artist who is also known as Teda creates strokes that celebrate lines as basics lifeline in forms, though comes with challenge of sustaining a balance between modern and contemporary textures.

And in the art space, especially of African descent artists, that's currently loud in blackened portrait forms, Teda's choice of expressionist may be swimming against that contemporary tide. Whatever the artist has in his creative arsenal to remain afloat, over the crowded scene of repetitive blackened figurative art, demands more energies in conceptual strength.

For an artist who has put in fifteen years in full-time studio practice, the texture of his paintings and philosophy built around them creates more appreciation within the critical context. For the digits of commercial art values, the prospects of timelessness in Teda's art has the strength to deconstruct perception.

Irrespective of contemporary African tide, Teda has something for art aficionados to chew over, especially in dragging personal contents into his choice of themes. He applies theme of his work in self-reflection, for example, in one of his works titled A Sick Man, a coalescence of basics, minimalist and experimental hues.

Whatever inspired A Sick Man, the artist creates a chain of inspiration by taking something personal from the dilemma of the subject. He discloses that "the main character’s honest and raw self-examination pushed me to look inside myself and face my own thoughts and feelings," of which he hopes that viewers continue the chains of inspiration.

Between the complexity and lucidity of art, Teda has found a buffer, conscripting lines as major navigation through the waves of most of his paintings. The expressionist approach to quite a number of his works, enhanced by simplified lines, dramatises the coalescence of drawing, hues and shades.

Expanding the dynamics of his thoughts, Teda creates a pseudo-performance composition in the mixed media piece titled Fathers Day Project. The stage-like depiction of a father and daughter, sitting distance apart with a room divider between the two, replicates a performance art scene. Adding to the dramatic capture of the scenery is the artist's unique identity of lines-dominated imageries as backdrop for the father and daughter depiction.

Cultural diversity that often represents generational gap is also captured in Tobi's Fathers Day Project as the man adorns the resilient Yoruba native clothings. And in contrast, the daughter goes with a loose western blouse and tight jeans, but completes the beauty of the scene with braided African hairstyle.

For Fathers Day Project, perhaps, the artist's signature of expressionist lines would have been more pronounced if the human elements were captured in paintings or mixed media with photography. With the hybridised composition in photographs of the father and daughter against the background of painting, Teda seemed to have, partly, denied his artistic identity a ventilation of assertiveness. Nevertheless, Fathers Day Project has its mastery in the concept and shades of natural emotive bonding between a child and her parent.

The artist's themes of self-gratification continues in such pieces as Positive Vibrations and Clapp for Yourself, escalating his expressionist passion. In the global challenges of increasing mental health, artistic endeavours that celebrates self-gratification, as expressed in the paintings of Teda brings relief. His choice of colours, he says, radiates "beauty inherent in our surroundings and within ourselves as individuals navigating the human experience."

He asserts that "the vibrant green leaves represent continual growth, illustrating how one thrives when they begin to recognise and applaud their own worth." Thematically, Clapp for Yourself serves as a mirror, through which Teda hopes people would "reflect on the importance of self-recognition and the positive effects it can have on personal growth and well-being."

Proudly a self-taught artist, Teda started his artistic journey from juniour school and eventually got into graphic design, using oil, acrylic as well as other mediums, while in the University. Teda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Covenant University, Ogun State, but the artist's bio says his passion for art has driven him to create a unique visual language that resonates with audiences on a profound level.

As Teda prepares for his first solo exhibition, holding in the next few weeks, in Manchester, UK, he already had quite some group shows. Some of his past exhibitions include Between two worlds, a solo at SAAR 1 Gallery, Manchester, UK, 2025; Falling - Henarch Galleries' group show, London, UK, 2024; The Big art show of Art Department, Paisley, Scotland; Blah Open 2024 - Cafe Blah, Manchester UK; Oriental Hotel Showroom Xmas Exhibition, Lagos, 2016; Artsy Dot Exhibition (KIA Motor), Abuja; and Fashion Collection Print – Featured at Lagos Fashion Design Week.

-Tajudeen Sowole is a Lagos-based writer on The Arts.

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