Wait (Denge Dey Pose), 2022
Barnabas Macauley

The Wait (Denge Dey Pose) is an original painting by Barnabas Macauley. Wait (Denge Dey Pose) was created with Mixed Media (Charcoal, Acrylic, and Pencil on a primed canvas.

In the Wait (Denge Dey Pose), Barnabas Macauley says: "the death of femininity. I've been quite concerned about this phenomenon. Due to rather a cascade of many events over centuries, women of this day are encouraged to bury their feminine essence and become a 'man' as though they'd find fulfillment in being one. One cannot really say what the cause is but sometimes, the absence of a father figure pushes a woman to stand up for herself in ways that disfigure her essence. Some other times, it's out of spite which of course
would still be traced to the absence of a father figure.

In some parts of the world, there's a scary death of fatherhood. The aim of this Wait (Denge Dey Pose) isn't a
melancholic depiction of all these variables. It's that of hope. More like a reborn of femininity and the importance of the feminine essence in the scheme of things and the balance of life. We need our women to be women again and; of course, our men to be men again. I am stricken by the painting. It reflects all things confident and powerful. Not aggressive. Not brash but like water; it flows yet it is very potent. Ambition, motherhood, life, grace, poise, carriage, love, elegance, heart, intellect... All those speak of that beautiful feminine essence. Indeed, a fish can only truly enjoy life in its habitat—water.

I love that the subject did not have to show it all to prove she's attractive. There's that class and humility she simultaneously effuses. Her eyes beam with love, tenderness, and strength as she looks upon the future whilst enjoying her present.

Shipping Procedure:
Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria
This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy.
Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity (Issued by the Gallery)

About Artist:
Macaulay Barnabas Osagie is a self-taught Artist and a graduate of the prestigious University of Benin, Nigeria, West Africa. Hailed from Benin heritage, which is known for its rich history, culture, and traditions. Growing up, He was fascinated by esthetics as a form of expression; this propelled his journey into the world of art. His passion for art began at the age of five, scribbling images on the ground using sticks—it evolved into drawings in primary and secondary schools. He was often selected among students to represent my secondary school in various art competitions.

"Knowing that Art fuels my existence and helps me connect with the world better, in 2018, I decided to not only do art for love and relief, but to explore it professionally, and build a renowned career in the industry. One that reflects my views on societal issues and serves as an echo of hope. Determined to pay my dues, I had the privilege of working at Prince Saheed Adelakun's Olokun Art Studio in Abule-Egba, Lagos. It was there I met with other professionals. I created my first series titled "Odan Series"; which was expressed via hyperrealism. I created this series at the point when my life was in shambles; I was going through a rough phase; working on this series was my solace at the time.

"Over the years, I have created brilliant artworks using charcoal and pencil on paper and have evolved using acrylic and charcoal on canvas as my primary media of visual articulation; these works take various forms and for various purposes, all a reflection of my creativity and depth. I am drawn to figurative African contemporary art and surrealism. That is because the human mind is made up of both the conscious and the subconscious. So, I believe there's no better way to do works that speak of both other than via figurative African contemporary art and surrealism. Most of my surrealistic expressions are done via drawings using charcoal and paper as my primary mediums. I employ the mixed media approach using both charcoal and acrylic on canvas in my figurative African contemporary expressions. I love the interjection of the two opposite polar elements the dryness of charcoal and the wetness of acrylic bring. They represent the dynamism of life and how contrasting factors shape us into who we are. I love to tell stories; both the ones that are consciously relatable via contemporary works and the ones that are subconsciously relatable via surrealistic pieces. I hope to invoke thoughts and emotions through my art. I want every viewer to not just see my art but to also see themselves; my art is a mirror of who they are. One of the beauties of life is to be understood and that is exactly what I want my art to invoke in anyone. I'm interested in conversations surrounding African history, identity, evolution, leadership, and a bit of politics.