From 18 March to 1 April, 2025, Omenka Gallery will present Ijinle Ara | The Depth of Self, a solo exhibition by UK-based Nigerian artist Abraham Babajide Cole. This compelling series of charcoal and ink drawings delves into the complexities of identity, spirituality, and the search for self beyond the surface.
Inspired by Yoruba philosophy, which posits that existence extends beyond the visible, Cole's work invites viewers to look deeper, beyond the reflection in the mirror, and into the intangible essence of selfhood. In an ever-changing world, who are we beneath the shifting masks of time, place, and experience?
Ijinle Ara explores the unseen forces that shape us, the ancestral echoes that resonate within, and the silent truths revealed only by the mirror of the soul. Through abstraction, masks, and fragmented forms, Cole's figures emerge from shadow and light, mirroring the multifaceted nature of selfhood in a world of constant movement and adaptation. The exhibition is a call to introspection, urging us to embrace our spiritual depth and recognise that we are the sum of all that we carry.
About the Artist
Abraham Babajide Cole is a UK-based Nigerian artist whose practice spans painting, drawing, illustration, and digital design. His work is deeply rooted in themes of migration, identity, and spirituality, drawing inspiration from nature, antiques, and the interplay of multiple visual forms to engage with the complexities of selfhood and human experience.
In October 2022, he staged his debut solo exhibition, Deep Introspection, at ArtRooms Gallery, Birmingham, UK. In 2024, he contributed to the Mayor of London's Untold Stories Project, collaborating with The Culture Tree and Southwark City Council to create a monumental public art installation in Peckham, celebrating Yoruba heritage and identity.
His work has also been showcased internationally, including his participation in the Suns of Egypt exhibition in Athens, Greece, in April 2024, where he presented a series of 12 drawings inspired by biblical and Quranic narratives, expanding his ongoing exploration of migration and portraiture.
A graduate of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria, Abraham Cole has worked as an art director across communication agencies and cultural spaces in Nigeria. His current body of work, 'Ijinlẹ Ara' (The Depth of Self), continues his interrogation of identity and spiritual introspection, using charcoal and ink to explore the ways in which we perceive ourselves beyond the physical-through mirrors, memory, and the unseen forces that shape our existence.