About

The blood of royalty is blue, or green, or yellow, or anything resplendent. Anything but good old bloody red. Surely, because from the day they are born till the day they take their last breath, they retain their royalty. However, when the king dies, a dilemma develops. There comes the question of what body would retain the land’s divinity, and what head would wear the crown. Omo Alade’s inspiration stemmed from the Olokun Heads. It tells the story of the hitch in the silk of the royal. The full moon here depicts the end of an era and the dawn of new beginnings that brings the Princess beamed in her wealth of glory. Her countenance in this piece is important, and we can draw from it multiple assumptions, such as her feeling towards the death of her father, the king, or her agitation at being unworthy of her inheritance because she is a woman. The artist’s position on this controversy isn’t lost on us as cowry shells adorn her headgear and fall from her shoulders, declaring her evident divinity and endorsing her for the crown. No matter the circumstance, prejudice or time, royalty remains an authentic guide to our spirituality, and gender regardless, lineage is always important to bear this role.

About the Artist

Omishore is a Nigerian-born multidisciplinary artist and designer based in the U.K.

He holds a master's degree in computer-generated imagery from Kingston University London, and his mediums are practice via digital art, design, painting, furniture, sculpture, and jewellery making.

Omishore’s work reflected upon the beauty of African’s art and history before colonisation and exploitation.

His work focuses on preserving his cultural heritage, and they are inspired by Olokun Heads (also known as Ife-Heads), which are one of the most naturalistic and realistic sculptures that were sculpted by Yoruba people in South West Nigeria between 11th and 15th centuries.

His work has been collected by private art collectors as well as art enthusiasts, and his body of work was recently exhibited in June 2022 at Gallery-different London.

Omishore is the founder of @Olokunstores and @olokunhome on Instagram.