"Father & Son" emerges from the artist's contemplation of intergenerational relationships within Togolese families, where wisdom flows like water between generations. This captivating work of African art explores the sacred bond between father and son, fragmented yet unbreakable, through a mesmerizing cubist-inspired approach.
The artist draws inspiration from personal observations of fatherhood in Togolese communities, where elders serve as repositories of cultural knowledge and spiritual guidance. The predominant blue palette represents both ocean and sky—elements that connect West African cosmology to eternity and ancestry. These cooling hues create a sense of emotional depth while the strategic splashes of green suggest growth, renewal, and the continuation of lineage.
Through fragmented planes and intersecting lines, the artist captures the complex dimensions of the father-son relationship—sometimes clear, sometimes obscured, but always connected at essential points. The abstract faces emerge from and recede into the geometric landscape, symbolizing how identity is simultaneously distinct and merged within familial bonds.
The composition speaks to traditional Togolese values where respect for elders coexists with the understanding that children will eventually carry forward cultural traditions. The fragmentary style reflects the modern challenges of maintaining these connections across diaspora, urbanization, and cultural shifts.
Father & Son | African Art
39.37in x 27.56in