Something about oldage by Reuben Ayodeji
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic on canvas (palette knife)
Dimensions: 76.2 x 91.4 cm
Year: 2025
Price: $1000.00 USD
Status: available
In creating "Something about oldage," I was moved by the intricate dance between the beauty and fear of growing old. This piece captures the essence of aging, a journey we all yearn for yet often find daunting. The layers of blue and orange, applied with a palette knife, reflect the complexity of emotions that accompany this stage of life. The vibrant blues convey the wisdom and calm that age can bring, while the bold oranges hint at the vibrancy and unpredictability that still pulse beneath the surface. The textured strokes mirror the wrinkles and stories etched into the faces of those who have lived long and full lives. I hope viewers feel the duality of aging, a tapestry of cherished memories and unknown futures. May this painting inspire a deeper appreciation for the richness of growing old, encouraging us to embrace each phase of life with courage and grace.
Why collect this work?
A frontal elder emerges from broken fields of blue, orange and green, making age legible through both bodily presence and the partial dissolution of likeness.
- Ayodeji states that his portrait practice conveys emotion through facial expression and body language. Here, the upright pose anchors a face whose features remain difficult to resolve.
- In the photograph, pale hair brackets the head while dark blue gathers behind it. Light blue clothing broadens the torso, and orange strokes cluster below, creating a charged contrast between composure and visual disruption.
- Catalogue metadata identifies acrylic applied with a palette knife. That method permits abrupt edges and overlapping deposits, used here to construct the figure through discrete patches rather than smooth modelling.
- The painting provides a concrete case for considering how contemporary portraiture can address ageing without reducing it to frailty, balancing an individual presence against marks that resist complete identification.
About the Artist
Reuben Ayodeji
Reuben Ayodeji is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Nationality: Nigerian
My artistic focus lies in the creation of unique works that convey emotions through body language and facial expressions.
