Folakemi Ibidokun
she/her
Irukere: Threads of Remembrance
In crafting my 'Irukere,' I embark on a deeply personal journey, intertwining the tapestry of my Yoruba heritage with my experiences in Ireland, my adopted home for nearly two decades. The 'Irukere' holds profound significance in Yoruba culture, symbolising power, authority, respect, honour, prestige, and tradition. In this reimagining, the sacred object is infused with the essence of Ireland, using natural biofibers sourced from Irish sheep farmers and repurposed human hair extensions from Dublin salons.
This body of work serves as a poignant testament to the enduring bond between past and present, life and death. The work celebrates the beauty and fragility of the human experience, something I know all too well since the recent passing of my beloved sister.
The colour story for this work not only pays homage to the Irish landscape, its fauna and flora but it is used to weave a visual narrative that seeks to evoke themes of memory and loss, bereavement, mourning and grief. The verdant green with earthly browns, the sombre greys, depict the brokenness of loss and devastation of grief. Flecks of yellow, blue and copper; represent the enduring legacy of love and remembrance. Ultimately, my ‘Irukere’ serves as a symbol of resilience of the human spirit and the profound capacity of art to heal the broken heart.
Irukere handles
Irukere
Irukere
Irukere
Irukere
Handle
Leathered handle
Embroiderered handle
Crochet
