Teni Asade
All my pieces contain stories of sorts . As a writer as well as an artist , I have always been fascinated with narrative and have aimed to incorporate this in all my artwork , from my sketchbook-like installation detailing the journey of a piece of art from a collection of thoughts to a full-colour painting to my large-scale collage portrait exploring the formation and development of a personality .
This narrative is not one-dimensional . While only some pieces physically depict stories , all of them have their own tale . Much of my work looks wildly different from the original plans , and I have embraced this dynamic experience .
Hand imagery is prominent in my work , and this too has a story . I found myself facing off against a creative block and decided to draw what I found most familiar and comforting : hands . Through this slump , my collection of pieces grew to what it is now : an assembly of pieces detailing the expressive and relational essence of hands . My body of work explores the significance our hands have in everyday life , as with my wheel piece , which to me represents whimsy as well as familiarity . I also played around with the tactile nature of touch , combining 2D paintings and 3D elements to create a mind-bending , thought-provoking image .
Of course , not all my work is centred around hands . Nevertheless , the main themes of identity , emotion , and sensation are central to each piece , and all my art is , in a sense , fundamentally interactive , allowing you , the viewer , to feel like you have interrupted the process of creation or , rather , stepped inside the journey of creating a piece of art . I hope you enjoy the ride !