Temitope Makinde, TeeMak is a Nigerian artist inspired by feminist figures in his immediate environment, and this in turn reflects very heavily in his digital art. For what makes the woman muse truly a formidable creature anytime it crosses the path of the artist can be drawn down to interplay of the male and female gender. It does raise the question on how much of a role a muse plays in the life of the artist, what qualifies as a muse and why is the man-woman, artist-muse relationship so long lived?   

Women are known to play huge roles their partner’s lives. Kathleen Brennan, wife of Tom Waits an American blues artiste plays an active role in creating art with her husband. Artist Elaine de Kooning as well, assisted Willem de Kooning during their time together. Furthermore, Edward Hopper’s muse was his wife, Jo Hopper and most of works involved experimental sketches of her. These various works were created as a gesture of acknowledgement, love and appreciation from artist to muse, man to spouse and human to support system.

Temitope Makinde, TeeMak also toes this line of natural tendencies manifesting in artistic projects. Born and raised in Lagos, Temitope since early years has always been intrigued by the beauty of the African woman, the strength in their tenderness, the beauty of their innocence and the colorfulness of their existence. Growing up under the love, care and guidance of his mother who served as the foundation for womanhood for him. Very much like Henri Matisse’s ‘Woman With a Hat’ which pays homage to his mother, TeeMak’s art follow in similar steps of using art as an avenue to eulogise loved ones.

The artist’s art is simple, yet bold in colours. Although some of the ideas might lack the depth and layers we have come to expect from contemporary artists, TeeMak’s works are slender silhouettes that leave the face untouched so viewers can imagine themselves there. The artist bases his art around what he calls “feminism without words, but with the colors of mother nature”. He employs a lot of earth tones, gold, yellow in his art. Temitope’s work live on several canvasses as they tell the tale of the feminine beauty.

While Temitope did not attend any art institution, he allowed life to become his teacher, the artist honed his craft under mentors that have mastered their crafts over the years. He utilized and took advantage of the power of the Internet to seamlessly draw inspiration and perfect his work. Temitope’s muse transcends beyond just the African woman, it is her wit, her wiles, her evolution throughout the years, and how she has navigated throughout the times with the power of her innocence, the strength of her weakness, and her nurturing hands of motherhood.

Temitope continues to create important works of art celebrating female figures within his life.