METAPHORICAL RENDITION OF FORMS IN PAINTING:  

a conceptual blending of Cassia tora root forms and well-being

         Captivated by plant roots and the need to revitalize the well-being of Nigerians, I embarked on a task of creating paintings that would thrive on metaphorical rendition of root forms. A conceptual blending of root forms is a metaphoric approach. Conceptual blending is a process of creating a visual metaphor that engages the sensory, emotional and cognitive systems, which allow information to be perceived and transformed (Feinstein, 1982). Conceptual blending involves key components such as restructuring, mapping, classifying, observing, and conceptual thinking (Serig, 2006). These metaphoric components were deployed in the paintings. 

 The paintings were rendered metaphorically, integrating the survival and healing attributes of Cassia tora plant roots. They were produced with a variety of conventional painting media, unconventional materials and diverse techniques. Cassia tora root forms are the dominant visual components of the compositions. The metaphorical rendition involve contextual, dialectical and analogous approaches akin to societal happenings in Nigeria. 

        The paintings were produced during my PhD research in painting. My PhD research paintings were produced in five phases in chronology with the five research objectives. I will deliberate on the artworks, based on content, context, form, technique and materiality. Twenty-two artworks (Plates I - XXII), from each of the five phases are selected for this deliberation as follows: 

• Phase-1: Singular Element
• Phase-2: Romeo and Juliet
• Phase-3: Nodal Forms
• Phase-4: Multiple Elements
• Phase-5: Roots of Fashion

‘Singular Element’ series of paintings dwell on a Cassia tora root pattern, replete with a taproot, branch roots and nodes. Paintings in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ series rely on two Cassia tora root patterns that intertwine each other on the picture plane. The picture plane of each painting in ‘Nodal Forms’ is filled with Cassia tora nodes. The compositions in ‘Multiple Elements’ integrate three or more Cassia tora root patterns. However, ‘Roots of Fashion’ series of paintings rely on a combination of Cassia tora root patterns, ‘unconventional materials’ and collage technique.

 

 

Objectives of the study

• explore the dynamic features of Cassia tora root pattern in painting; 
• infuse symbolic colours into the root forms to enhance their metaphoric content; 
• generate compositions in painting with the nodes of Cassia tora;  
• create paintings with multiple root patterns of Cassia tora; and 
• lift the metaphoric content of Cassia tora root forms using ‘unconventional materials’, such as beads, raffia, jute, polythene, woollen yarns and fabric offcuts

 

Phase1: Singular Element

 Singular Element (Phase1) consists of ‘Germination of Gold’, ‘Hero’, ‘Guerrilla Warrior’, ‘Aso Rock’ and ‘Bless them Mama Africa’ series of paintings (Plates I - V). ‘Germination of Gold’ is a naturalistic depiction of Cassia tora roots. The other four artworks are rendered in a semi-abstract style. The artworks lay emphasis on the visual analysis of Cassia tora root forms (the subject matter). It as draws inspiration from the survival attributes to make statements on the well-being of Nigerians. The major component of the root-inspired compositions is single Cassia tora root pattern, referred to as ‘Singular Element’. The compositions dwell on contrasting colour combination of the root forms, backgrounds and space. Space takes on a seesaw appearance, between distance and proximity, as well as outdoor scenery and room space.

The major compositional elements among the ‘Singular Element’ series of paintings include branch roots, taproots and nodes. There is distinct variation in colour combination, shape, depth and the interaction between space and root forms. The common theme among the Germination of Gold’, ‘Hero’ and ‘Guerrilla Warrior’ series is a view of the ‘risen hero’, who defied all odds in conquering his enemies on a battle field as a metaphor for inspiration. The works draw analogy from the survival strategy of Cassia tora roots, which is characterized by dominance, to personify the notion of victory achieved through courageousness and perseverance. However, ‘Bless them Mama Africa’ draws analogy from Cassia tora healing attributes, to extend her helping hands to Nigerians while ‘Aso Rock’ utilizes the Cassia tora visual features to illustrate the organs of government in Nigeria.  

 

1.1   Germination of Gold 

  Plate I: Germination of Gold 

Ink and Acrylic on Paper, 91 cm x 124 cm, Stephen Achugwo ©2015

‘Germination of Gold' is composed with a Cassia tora root pattern that represents the ‘risen hero’ and a dark background of brown hues symbolic of the battle field. It is rendered in a naturalistic style, depicting the basic structures of Cassia tora root pattern, replete with a taproot, branch root and nodes. There is no modification in proportion; one can see the relationship between the various components of the root system. Cassia tora roots are depicted with glittering gold ink, enabling the subject matter (the hero) to stand out from the dark brown background as well as projecting the bragging rights of the hero. The painting is made from a direct approach, through a direct observation of freshly uprooted Cassia tora plant roots. 

 

1.2    Hero  

Plate II: Hero, Oil on Canvass, 112 cm x 92 cm, Stephen Achugwo ©2015

As the title suggests, the theme of 'Hero' is based on a view of the ‘risen hero’, who defied all odds in conquering his enemies on a battle field as a metaphor for inspiration. The ‘risen hero’ is suggested by a Cassia tora root pattern that dominates the left side of the picture plane. The painting is composed with a Cassia tora root pattern and a background of red and yellow hues. It explores the Cassia tora roots components, including a taproot, branch roots and nodes. The warm colours give the impression of heat felt in the afternoon in Nigeria, as well as expressing the intensity of the battle. Rough textures are infused into the background with thick patches of colour. Space appears like a colourful cloudy environment, evoking a feeling of excitement. The warm colours are symbolic of celebration and joy of victory after the battle. The ‘Hero’ is depicted with a Cassia tora pattern of magenta and yellow hues. 

 

1.3     Guerrilla Warrior  

Plate III: Guerrilla Warrior, Oil Pastel on paper, 91 cm x 124 cm, Stephen Achugwo ©2015

Whether a warrior is at the middle of the battlefield or in the middle of the jungle, survival and domination are the vital keys for victory. In this composition, the Guerrilla Warrior (the risen hero) is portrayed with a cross section of the Cassia tora root pattern and colourful textured background. 'Guerrilla Warrior' shares a common theme with the previous paintings. The ‘risen hero’ is suggested by a Cassia tora root pattern that dominates the picture plane. The colourful background is the climax of the celebration that accompanied the victory by the warrior. 

 

1.4    Aso Rock 

Plate IV: Aso Rock, Oil on Canvass, Size: 122 cm x 122 cm, Stephen Achugwo ©2015

‘Aso Rock’ is a visual metaphor that describes the organs of government in Nigeria. The supreme leadership structure is represented by Cassia tora root forms. At the left side of the painting is a singular root element of Cassia tora, depicted in tints of magenta and yellow. This root unit represents the office of the Presidency at Aso Rock. It is in this office that major political decisions are taken for the governance of Nigeria. Whilst the taproot stands for the president of Nigeria, the thinner branch roots represent other arms of government, consisting of the Legislators – Senators and House of Representative Members, Judiciary, and the Ministers.

There is a cross-section of the root pattern of Cassia tora on the right side of the picture plane, depicted in shades of purple. This segment is far bigger in scale than the singular root element on the left side of the composition. It represents the people of Nigeria and the diverse culture, languages and ethnic groups. The Nigerian people’s hope and aspirations are enshrined in the circular nodes. Cassia tora nodes are portrayed with circular planes tones of purple hues.

Space is appropriated as the well-being of Nigerians, which is affected by the inconsistent leadership since independence. The space in this composition also represents the common space (Nigeria territory) shared by the leaders and the followers. The negative spaces are depicted in light tones of magenta, enabling the root forms to be clearly projected from the composition as well as intensifying the depth. The interaction between the branch roots of the large root segment, the nodes and the branch roots of the singular root element, speak more of the cordial relationship between the government of Nigeria and her citizenry. The root patterns are outlined with cerulean blue. The outline epitomizes the sovereignty of Nigeria and encapsulates the common democratic aspirations of Nigerians. 

 

1.5    Bless them Mama Africa 

 Plate V: Bless them Mama Africa, Oil on Canvas, 127 cm x 141 cm, Stephen Achugwo ©2015

As the title suggests, ‘Bless them Mama Africa’ metaphorically lends a helping hand to Nigerians. It is composed of a cross-section of the taproot and branch roots of Cassia tora. The nodes are completely eliminated. It is a monochromatic composition, dominated by tones of yellow ochre and sienna. On the right edge of the picture frame is a segment of the taproot, which appears like a tree trunk. From this segment, branch roots sprout out, spreading diagonally downwards over the picture plane. At a glance the background appears like a room space, as if the world has come to an end. On a closer look, it appears like an environment lit with sunset. ‘Mama Africa’ is represented by a segment of taproot. The branch roots serve multiple purposes in the composition. They represent various tribes of Nigeria as well as the helping hands of ‘Mama Africa’. The warm colour combination of yellow symbolizes hope for the nation.