The art of healing

The artistic pieces, handbags, paintings, pillows, and sculptures, bear the rich details of an inspired hand, not so much his own, but that of an instrument for channelling glimpses of the esoteric. He called it “the process,” or the means through which art becomes discernible to the five senses. It is a profound study of the creation process, from the germination of an idea, its crystallisation, and finally, its manifestation. Welcome to the little understood world of Trinidadian artist, Omidiran Keyi Ogundale, CEO of Keyi Ko African Arts. Ogundale is well schooled in the Ifa tradition, initiated in both Nigeria and his native land. But the road to his present station, meandered, sharply at the outset. “My parents sent me to Canada to become an architect,” he recalled, “but in my third year at Humber University, I was in class, and in a reverie, I heard an inner voice that beckoned me to reflect on who, not what I wanted to become.” This epiphanical encounter irked his parents, no doubt, but transformed him into an artistic medium for curative forces. Ogundale is mindful of what he called, “the clutter,” or “noise.” “Eshu removes the clutter,” he offered, referring to one of the most popular orishas in the Yoruba pantheon. “It (clutter) short circuits the flow of messages and hinders the creative process,” he opined. For this reason, he shuns crowds. “An artist has to be in a constant state of spirit possession.” He went on to elucidate the term “possession” which he later used interchangeably with “zone,” ever careful not to be misconstrued. “When the artist is in the zone, hearing becomes sharper, more astute.” 

He viewed himself as a vessel, not an artist. “While I would like to refer to this ‘work’ as mine,” he said, “I cannot, simply because it does not belong to me. Yes it is my hands that produce this work but they are just part of a vessel, the vehicle through which the work flows.” This evening he was also talking about the ego and pride. “You see,” he began, “one has to be careful not to allow the ego to become part of the experience. It changes how your art is perceived and felt. It also adversely affects the product itself.” He likened himself to a 24-hour fax service, always attuned to cosmic inspiration from Oshun and Obalufun, the creative side of Obatala. Interestingly, a shrine to the latter, known as the god of the white cloth, is conspicuously positioned a few feet in front of his work space. Mr Ogundale viewed art as a living expression, un-divorced from daily experiences. But the daily experience can be wrought with bitterness, anger, and lonesomeness. And as if commissioned by unseen forces to respond to this reality, Mr Ogundale’s artistry has evolved, taking on new meaning, touching lives, healing, reconnecting, and recreating the broken spirit. “Anything introduced to bring about a sense of wholeness is healing,” he said, and expounded on the mysticism of art. “Anything with form makes a sound. Spirit moves in sound,” he explained, using a couple of anecdotes to cement his argument. 

Ogundale’s vibratory theory has long been advanced by ancient civilisations and empirically proven using contemporary standards. As society adopts the principles of Sankofa (embracing traditional teaching and lore), Ogundale’s stock has soared. He has participated in Artist in Residency Programmes throughout the United States, and has initiated workshop involving rites of passage. This particular programme is psychodynamic in nature and facilitates self discovery at the most atavistic level. Employing Akan cosmology and ontology, he described how participants use the canvas to speak, to pry open doors to the inner self. “This workshop identifies pain, and removes obstacles which lead to healing and the understanding one’s journey toward destiny.” As these workshops grow in popularity and more importantly, in relevance, this Trinidadian remains humble and gracious—a reflection of a few words he penned eight years ago:

Today is the first day of the rest of my life

And it feels good to be here

I am grateful for this moment

And everything it brings.....