For the author of Beyond the Brush, Oluwaferanmi Ogunmefun, art is a mesmerising tapestry of symbols and hidden messages.

Speaking at his maiden show held in Lagos recently, he revealed the concept was to inspire curiosity for viewers to look deeper into each art piece and understand what is beyond the brush.

“It is an invitation to engage, contemplate and be part of a shared experience that fosters connection and sparks intellectual curiosity,” he stated.

Drawing inspiration from ancient civilisations and the allure of hieroglyphics, ‘Feranmi crafted a unique artistic style that weaves together cryptic visual aesthetics and enigmatic story telling.
[ad]
Establishing a dialogue between himself, the artwork and the viewer, each stroke of the brush and carefully placed symbol carries profound meaning, inviting the viewers into a world of intrigue and discovery.

With a deep appreciation for the power of language, he also blends the beauty of portraiture, the English language with the mystery of hidden messages. It is with these symbols that stories come alive, waiting to be demystified by the select few who possess the key to unravel the mysteries.

With 12 works on display, he said the names resonate with the works behind the paintings.

“The works were done when I was going through something and wanted to display them in visual image,” he noted.

Some of the works include, Cosmic Duality, Seductive Serenade, Resilient Whispers, Cryptic Void, Echoes of Value, among others.

Describing himself as self-taught artist, he added, “I’m a finance guy but arts is my passion. I’ve always been looking for a way to bridge those two worlds— finance and arts. I was able to tie some coding into the messages. That is, I can access financial instrument through my paintings. The act of decoding becomes a personal journey being transmitted into arts.”

In his collections, vibrant colours harmonise, with carefully place symbols, forming a visual language that transcends traditional communication.

Speaking on the duration for creating each artwork, he said on the average, he spends three days for cryptic art piece. “Portraits take more than a week because I like to step back, return with a refreshed mind, look at it and edit again.” He said.

He described his father as his mentor, who taught him life lessons, the business and marketing of arts.

A Business Administration graduate of University of Edinburg, Scotland, ‘Feranmi also attended Queen Mary University, London, where he bagged his master’s degree in investment banking.
[ad]