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Showing posts from 2020

The Puzzle Series 002: Every Puzzle is Constructed Differently

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Kobe is a name everyone has an opinion on. Whether you loved him, hated him or feared him. He was someone that engaged you at an emotional level. And that's very rare. When I started making this drawing, I was very particular about what moment and characteristics of him stood out to the world the most. I've read countless testimonials on his influence. He was a husband, father and a mentor. More importantly, he was a curious person. Always in a constant search of information and philosophy and had ambitions far beyond the court. He was hyper aware of the story and the Legacy he was building. It's heart breaking that we never get to see his future dreams realized, but we can know one thing, like every other chapter of his life: It would have been great. The basic premise of this piece is to carefully relate the importance of serendipity. So much of our life is connected. More like a puzzle. All of your circumstances, your purpose, weakness, stre

Time Perspective 02: This is the story of a helpless woman who is about to become famous, but for the very wrong reasons.

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We are all currently going through the coronavirus pandemic, and I can't help but ask the question of whether people have to choose between dying by the Virus or by other means? Means such as fear, hate, racism, ignorance or even starvation. Should there be a need for that question in the first place? World Nations casting aspersions on another, so much to blame on the topic of transparency, and world domination. The negligence of Health institutions. Conspiracy theories floating through the wind, here and there. After all is said and done, what do we make of all these? The idea of legacy may remind us of death, but it's not about death. Being reminded of death is actually a good thing, because death informs life. It gives you a perspective on what's important. It helps us decide the kind of life we want to live and the kind of world we want to live in. Leaving a legacy is a human need. It is in part selfish – we want to feel immortal. The idea of leav

Time Perspective 01: Expanding Our Time Perspective is a useful way of Understanding all kinds of Events and Issues

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Expanding our time perspective is a useful way of understanding all kinds of events and issues.  It becomes particularly useful when we're trying to understand something as complex as what's going on in the world at large moments. How we respond to the fundamental uncertainty of life and the immenseness of eternity shapes everything we do and is driven in part by how we think about our place in the world, our sense of identity. Some people think of identity as a kind of answer, an ideal or end-state, achieved progressively through an ongoing examination of one's character and qualities. Others see identity as a question, an open-ended journey that's always shifting and changing. For them, the development of self requires a kind of "enlightened indeterminacy" – a willingness to embrace ambiguity and uncertainty as an integral part of everyday life. For all kinds of people, however, identity is a significant accomplishment. Coping

The Legacy Project 003: How often do you think about your Legacy?

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When you start thinking about Legacy, no matter what your age or state of health, you take into account all of your accomplishments and disappointments. You take stock of what you've learnt from past activities, what you're doing now, and what you still hope to do. With varying levels of awareness, we also inevitably reflect on the people, work, ideas, commitments, and social institutions that have given our lives shape and meaning. The Legacy Project is a distinct, developing collection by Artist Fatola Israel that centres on the largely unaddressed aspect of our life: Death and Human’s perception of it. It cuts across all borders, race and background. We are all going to die someday. The question now is how do you want to be remembered? This question to a large extent, should influence our choices and actions. Artist.  Fatola Israel Series: The Legacy Project (003) Medium: Compressed Charcoal, Generals Charcoal and Kimberly Pencils  on pape

The Legacy Project 002: Life Doesn't Slow Down When You Are Gone

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Many years ago before I got myself a camera, my friend "Jay" always comes to my rescue. He had a Nikon which we used to document my drawings, he'll explain how it works but I often forget a lot since I don't practice with it too often. In those days, we made great memories. Jay and I got along so well and I've grown to respect him. We still learn so much from each other. Just recently, on the 2nd of January, 2020, Jay lost his dad. I have only met his dad once. He was a strong Man. He taught me to forever embrace the spiritual. He emphasizes the need to encounter God and stay with God in other to locate one's bearing/purpose in life. You see, life doesn't slow down when you are gone. You just become a less part of it. What really makes You remembered is the life you live and the impact it has. Impact is not gauged by what you think you're doing, but how other people's lives are Improving as a result of your existence-

The Legacy Project 001: The Shadow of Death is on every Face

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The Shadow of Death is on every face. That's the kind of death that frightens me. This Shadow of death slowly, slowly eats away at the region of Life, and before You know it everything's dark and you can't see, and the people around you think of you as more dead than alive. This series embodies a distinct collection of artworks by Artist Fatola Israel that centres on the largely unaddressed aspect of our life; the rather subdued experience of Human’s perception of Death…and Life too, it cuts across all borders, race and background. We are all going to die someday.  Drawing from his experiences as well as that of others, Fatola’s bold, incisive approach to address this issue provides a fresh perspective on topics as varied as Life, Death, Legacy, Impact and influence, and also sheds light on the most pressing issues of today, part sociological tract, part polemic.  The collection exposes the fact that death still remains largely unaddressed within oneself