Born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Adeolu Osibodu is a Photo-artist based in London, United Kingdom who is unveiling the depths of surrealism in photography. Through his images, ideas and artistic process, he is redefining the boundaries of visual storytelling. His images speak of a profound artistic exploration plunging the viewer into a realm that evokes emotions and transformative introspection.
Growing up in the largest city in Africa, Adeolu Osibodu witnessed the vibrant energy of the city and the creative vim of its people. Lagos is a considerably overpopulated city and Osibodu particularly disliked the city’s cramped conditions. His family later relocated to a Christian camp in Ondo State when he was 10 years of age. The camp in Ondo was vastly different from Lagos, the environment was more peaceful, filled with clusters of trees and endlessly open fields. This new environment not only became home to the artist, it also heavily inspired his image-making style, a style he has become known for over the past few years. From the age of 18, Adeolu had already started to use photography as his tool for self expression.
Surrealism encapsulates the essence of Osibodu’s artistic journey; from the conceptualization, to the meticulous process, and unwavering commitment to create something transformative, he challenges the limitations of what is deemed possible. To Adeolu Osibodu, surrealism is an invitation to delve into the abyss of the mind, to question established norms and explore uncharted territories of imagination. Adeolu has always been captivated by the interplay of dreams and ideas being perpetually caught in a creative dance. Through his practice, Adeolu Osibodu weaves a peculiar narrative, where the passage of time becomes a fleeting phenomenon, intertwined with a profound appreciation for sentiment. This style of image making he has over the last few years become known for.
He draws inspiration from his personal life experiences which he records in a journal and is particularly fascinated with moments that present a profound sense of multi reality. His images capture the essence of daily life, often featuring his close friends as models. His creative process is a deeply introspective one that according to him involves spending more time with his idea rather than his camera. He says “I wanted to create a new world with photography…I just had the urge to express myself and channel my thoughts into the craft… I just wanted to have a sense of impact with minimalistic concepts.”
