To be or not to be by Reuben Ayodeji
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Acrylic on canvas (palette knife)
Dimensions: 45.7 x 55.9 cm
Year: 2025
Price: $600.00 USD
Status: available
In creating "To be or not to be," I delved into the tumultuous space of indecision, where every choice feels like standing at the edge of a precipice. This piece was born from my own moments of uncertainty, where the heart and mind wrestle in a dance of possibilities. The figure, central and raw, is caught in this vibrant storm of emotion, embodying the struggle between clarity and confusion. I used bold strokes of orange and blue to mirror the intensity of this internal conflict. The palette knife allowed me to layer these colors dynamically, capturing the essence of movement and change. The orange signifies the heat of passion and urgency, while the blue offers a counterbalance of calm and introspection. Together, they create a vivid backdrop that reflects the viewer's own experiences of decision-making. I hope that when you engage with this painting, you feel a connection to your own pivotal moments. May it inspire you to embrace the beauty of uncertainty and find strength in the choices that shape your journey.
Why collect this work?
A frontal figure is held between broad orange and blue fields, while broken contours prevent the body from settling into a single, coherent outline. The painting makes indecision legible as a tension between physical presence and visual fragmentation.
- Ayodeji states that body language and facial expression are central to his practice. Here, the lowered head, raised arms and partially obscured face concentrate meaning in posture rather than portrait likeness.
- The photograph shows a compact figure framed by sweeping, wing-like passages of orange and blue. Fine dark lines cross heavier colour masses, so the body appears both constructed and interrupted by its surroundings.
- The documented medium is palette-knife acrylic on canvas. Acrylic can preserve abrupt overlaps and opaque blocks, while a knife can shift between broad deposits and scraped edges, supporting the work’s contrast between force and hesitation.
- Made in 2025, the painting provides a focused case for examining how contemporary figurative painting can represent decision-making without illustrating a specific choice. Its unresolved boundaries keep uncertainty structural rather than merely narrative.
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.
