5 of them is an acrylic Canva painting done by Slawn, a London-based Nigerian artist, who makes paintings that are childlike, with raw emotional energy. It measures 170cm x 225 cm. It was created using a mix of ink, acrylic and spray paint on canvas. The painting was presented in his major solo exhibition called “I present to you, Slawn” at Saatchi Yates Gallery in London. The style of this painting is more of a blend of abstract, pop culture, expressionism and graffiti, which reflects Slawn’s signature style.
Visually
The visual Language of this piece is more cartoon-like with bold black outlines and bright colours such as green, blue, orange, and purple, which create both rhythm and depth. Each face has an over-sized eyes with long lashes, thick red lips shape forming a sad, maybe even blank facial expression. The colours create a surface of joy, but the mouths contradict. The happy colour versus the sad expression creates a tension which is one of the characteristics of contemporary visual art. The repeated faces could suggest a loss of individuality or digital-era sameness, or the feeling of being one of many observers rather than a singular self.
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“5 of Them” Peer Review
Your interpretation of the repeated faces helped me understand that this simple art piece could have a more significant meaning. You clearly explain your interpretation of the loss of individuality and self. This interpretation is convincing as you explain there is no vast difference between their expressions, or their overall appearance. Your description of the colours that are used, helped me visualize the vibrances and noticeability of this art piece. Though, I was curious about where someone could come across this painting. While the interpretation is well thought-out and convincing, I believe your description of the art could be strengthened. To strengthen this area, I would suggest describing what lines are being used, and the location. Are the lines jagged, straight, or rounded? Does the location of this art piece allow a variety of individuals to come across it? This art piece is new to me, and I enjoyed reading your descriptions.
Question
If the expressions on the characters changed to a happy expression, how would that change the meaning of the art piece?