Midas

The ancient story of Midas becomes a Lagos story without effort.

An elder in white is surrounded by gold: chain, cross, border.

Then the gold reaches his eyes.

Azekwoh relocates the curse from touch to sight.

This Midas does not merely turn everything into wealth. He has become so thoroughly surrounded by value that value determines how he sees.

That is a distinctly contemporary danger.

Success can begin as freedom and gradually become the only lens through which a life is understood. Everything becomes asset, status, opportunity, acquisition.

The gold that once proved he had won eventually becomes the thing he cannot look beyond.

He possesses everything.

The painting asks what possession has done to perception.