Ṣàngódáre Gbádégẹsin Àjàlá was a batik painter of hand-painted textiles using the wax-resist dyeing method which fused his artistic and ritual practice. Àjàlá’s practice conveyed, in his words, “the rich complexity of his heritage and spirituality”. The dense storytelling of his batiks often depicted initiations of olórìṣàs, individuals consecrated to Yoruba deities, such as himself, or festivals for deities. Others, however, celebrated everyday life, like men tapping palm wine or women carrying market goods. Àjàlá’s preference for precise drawing and multidimensional colour led to a lifelong experimentation in the wax- resist technique of batik seen in these works, in which designs are drawn in wax and dye is applied afterward. In addition to his characteristic figuration, Àjàlá’s extensive knowledge of Yoruba herbology informed his formal innovations in batik painting. It enabled him to develop plant dyes that facilitated the extraordinary colouring and shading of his work, with single compositions like these including up to thirty-five colours.
This is the first time the work of Ṣàngódáre Gbádégẹsin Àjàlá is presented at Biennale Arte.
—Merve Fejzula
