By Osa Mbonu-Amadi, Arts Editor

In the 21st century contemporary art environment, always loud in figurative and representational forms, particularly among artists of African origin, few have refused to be in that crowded scene.

Roselyn Ojo belongs in the category of artists whose works of abstract renditions bring relief, away from the overpopulated space of figurative and portrait genres.

Most interesting is the fact that Ojo’s subjects and themes in abstraction take viewers through the universe, extracting her thoughts on cosmology. The artist’s creative thoughts on cosmology is capable of expanding the discourse in science and spirituality of the outer space. In fact, Ojo’s artistic perspective adds to the relativity of some issues on the universe, irrespective of whatever astrologers have claimed.

Ojo’s paintings take imagination of visual culture into the celestial realm, rendering hues of blues to capture the tones of the other parts of the universe outside the earth. Among such paintings are Beauty in chaos, Mystical Labyrinth, Celestial waters, Armageddon, and Resolved. In each of the work, Ojo celebrates abstractionism in its intellectual depth, creating critical dialogue between the paintings and the spirit of engagement.

The artist stresses the strength of aesthetics in a piece she titles Beauty In Chaos, in which hues and light are applied to converge the contrasting power of two forces. Despite what looks like a chaotic scene in the painting, Ojo’s style and technique create the duality of art, in perhaps, metaphorical context. Ojo explained how she “aimed to explore the profound connections between the universe and the human experience.” The artist brings her creative licence to challenge science and others who claimed to have some celestial knowledge of the universe. “The blue and white colours represent the vastness of cosmos evoking a sense of awe and contemplation.”

The artist continues her thoughts on mysticism in quite a number of other paintings, challenging everyone to think beyond the physical. Among such paintings is the piece she titles Mystical Labyrinth, in which she creates labyrinthine parts in cubic pattern, explaining that it “represents our search for meaning and understanding, navigating the complexities of life and the universe.”  Perhaps, one of the common things shared in celestial space with earthly characteristic is change, according to Jo’s rendition in the painting. “The exploding planetary bodies symbolise transformative forces, reminding us that change is constant and cosmic evolution is ongoing.”

 Curiously, why would any artist choose abstract art as a choice in the contemporary space full of figurative form and portrait genres? “I primarily create abstract non-objective paintings because I find the creative process to be honest and satisfying,” Ojo explained her choice of genre. “A single mark or line on a blank surface provides a starting point for an intuitive exploration of the visual language found in abstraction. My work is an attempt to channel and express my thoughts, often revealing my inner emotions. I paint what I have seen and what moves me, with the aim of provoking emotion, thinking, and discourse.”

 Born in Ibadan, Nigeria, but currently based in Middlesbrough, UK, Ojo is an artist whose work spans across canvas, paper, and textiles. She set out on her artistic journey with a degree in Fine Art from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria, where she specialized in Graphic Design and minored in Painting. She further honed her skills with a recent graduate degree from Teesside University 2024.

Ojo’s choice of abstract has been inspired by the likes of Jackson Pollock, Wangechi Mutu, Helen Frankenthaler, and Hans Hofmann. Ojo’s abstract expressionism seeks to unlock the freedom of unrestrained creativity, capturing her innermost thoughts and emotions on canvas. Her distinctive abstraction style has garnered recognition, with exhibitions in esteemed spaces like Curator Space and the Big Art Festival in Stockton, paving the way for future projects and collaborations.