Celestial Intuition by Data Oruwari

Celestial Intuition by Data Oruwari, 2019, ink, gouache and 24k gold leaf on archival paper, 30 x 20 inches.

The words Ányá (Eye)’ + Ánwụ́ (Sun/Light) when combined reads as “eye of light.” Anya-Anwu was a deity believed by the Nri people to be the symbol of human perfection that all must seek through an understanding of ‘self’. The Nri people sought to reach this level of self-perfection through spiritual practices such as ‘Star Gazing’ (now known as Astrology), Chanting, and continuous sitting in silence (now known as Meditation). The Nri kingdom was a major Igbo civilization in south-eastern Nigeria which dates back to the 9th century. It influenced the spiritual and ritual traditions of many Igbo and neighboring groups. The pre-colonial ontology of the Nri people is very similar to modern concepts on ‘spiritual enlightenment’ posited by the west and ‘spiritual awakening’ in the eastern Buddhist philosophies. Spiritual enlightenment is waking up to who we are and why we are here. Being conscious of our true self and nature. This concept transcends religion, culture, gender or politics. Its only source being that of truth. This piece is an iconographic representation of Anya-Anwu. It reveals a deity with a halo of sun rays and the symbol of the all-seeing eye above its heart. Anya-Anwu is evidence that pre-euronized Igbos had an evolved understanding of the concept of self-realization. The Nri people understood that without the Sun there’d be no light/life on our planet. Anya-Anwu reminds us to find the light in ourselves; for without looking inward to attain enlightenment, we’ll continue to live in perpetual darkness about who we are and why we are here.

Data Oruwari is a Nigerian illustrator and contemporary sacred artist, who creates unique iconographic representations of afro-spiritual concepts. She works primarily with pen and ink. Through meticulous line and stippling techniques, she creates imagery that illuminates the divine in us all as well as seeks to heal and reconnect humanity with spirituality from an African perspective. Her influences include Afro-mythology, Afro-cosmology, the visionary art movement, byzantine iconography, and afro-mysticism. Data affirms that our belief systems are an invisible force that shapes our identity, by enriching our understanding of who we are and why we are here. Hence through her work, she aims to decolonize and reclaim a spiritual identity that’s been damaged from centuries-long ‘demonization’ of afro-indigenous belief systems. She does this by telling stories of how her ancestors understood the nature of our collective existence. Through myth and symbolism, she explores afro-indigenous concepts on spirituality from her personal experiences as an African woman born into a post-colonial environment. She uses art as a way to heal deep-seated collective wounds of history, and to celebrate the vibrancy and relevance of the legacy of those that came before her.