Thinkspace Projects presents:

JIMBO LATEEF
Chronicles of Life

Opening Reception:
Saturday, May 6 from 6-10pm

On view May 6 – May 27, 2023 in Gallery IV

Calligraphic marks blend with portraiture to make up Jimbo Lateef’s latest body of work. With Chronicles of Life, Lateef reflects on his Yoruban heritage, as well as the ideas of identity and history to weave together an image of daily life. Drawing on everyday activities and the series of events that can make up a person’s life, he presents a show inspired by Pablo Picasso’s blue period.

Opting for vibrant reds and oranges he leans into the monochromatic, merging multiple calligraphy strokes and realism painting techniques to reproduce familiar daily life events. The calligraphic markings demonstrate Lateef’s role and his hand as the artist, bringing a personal layer to the relatable scenarios.

With the creation of each piece bringing the artist peace and tranquility, the paintings are both a therapeutic exercise and a breathtaking creative output, serving as containers for narratives from the deeply unique to near mundane. Using calligraphy as a means of expressing emotion within the body, Lateef is able to reflect on both the mental and physical elements of his life and the life of his subjects.

About Jimbo Lateef
Jimbo Lateef (b. 1999 Nigeria) started to learn about art at a very young age, after which he went to study art at Yabatech College Of Technology. The artist explores the use of modern calligraphy to create his character, combining the calligraphy with portraiture in digital-like works that stare back at the viewer. His distinct style, functional inscriptions, and designs represent the various manifestations of his subject. Painting people around him, Lateef demonstrates how we all carry ancient ideas with us, touching on the concept of culture and how it is passed down from one generation to the next.