Coral Boy 3

Fishing for Colour and Tender Feelings:

This collection is an invitation to experience the ocean and its worlds, within and through our imagination. Our imaginations are products of the same evolutionary principle that brings about shimmering schools of fish, the tessellation on a turtle's shell, and rich and diverse ecological worlds that make up our ocean. Using vivid colours and graphic imagery, this series follows a child's journey, rejecting colonial ideologies and re-claiming ancestral ties, rights and access to the ocean. Inspired by Kenyan philosopher John Mbiti's reimagining of time from a pre-colonial divine African science, one in which time is experienced in the plural concepts of now, and in which every creature and object in the universe co-creates its own time, where time is as unique as personalities. The protagonist's quest reflects a rejection of Western notions of separation from nature, embracing instead a deep interconnectedness with the ocean. Bayo Akomolafe's reflections on the Atlantic's legacy echo, urging us to reimagine history and escape its grasp. Amid vibrant coral gardens and seaweed fields, the child finds inspiration for resilience and adaptability, mirroring the vitality of the ocean's ecosystems. Ultimately, this exhibition celebrates the interconnectedness of all life, blurring boundaries between self, time, and place. It invites viewers to reclaim their roots and embrace the ocean as an intrinsic part of their identity, fostering a transformative journey toward harmony with nature.