For the exhibition Badru Temitayo. We are gods, the Nigerian artist Badru Temitayo Taofeek (1983) draws inspiration from African history, myths and folklore.
Temitayo is the winner of the Textile Biennial 2023. Images of Power Audience Award and in this first European solo exhibition he shows portraits and installations deeply rooted in Yoruba culture.
The title of the exhibition We are gods is an ode to the Yoruba worldview. The Yoruba live in the southwest of Nigeria and eastern Benin and have their own language and religion. The Yoruba faith recognises a supreme god and 401 smaller orisas (gods or spirits) sent to help humanity succeed on earth and to guide them spiritually. Similar to the Textile Biennale, a selection of hand-embroidered portraits of Temitayo's family will be on display. The colours and attributes in these intimate portraits are all symbolic and reflect the richness of Yoruba culture.
The Yoruba faith recognises a supreme god and 401 smaller orisas (gods or spirits) sent to help humanity succeed on earth and to guide them spiritually. Similar to the Textile Biennale, a selection of hand-embroidered portraits of Temitayo's family will be on display. The colours and attributes in these intimate portraits are all symbolic and reflect the richness of Yoruba culture.
In his layered textile installations, patterns of the traditional Adire Eleko fabric are featured, in which shapes are created using a tie-dye technique on indigo fabric. The origins and meaning of Adire symbols have largely been lost due to internal developments and external influences within the Yoruba region. Temitayo's work focuses on this unique visual language and craftsmanship, fostering a renewed appreciation for the rich Yoruba culture.
Exhibition Dates: 2024 Dec 1 - 2025 Mar 2
Main Image: Courtesy Badru Temitayo
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Anna Melnykova, "Palace of Labor (palats praci), architector I. Pretro, 1916", shot with analog Canon camera, 35 mm Fuji film in March 2022.
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