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"Sabi Girl" was born from a desire to highlight female faces and forms in a powerful, captivating way. Ayra Starr was the perfect muse - her striking beauty, flawless features, and undeniable influence in Nigerian pop culture made her an ideal reference. She exudes confidence, sophistication, and allure, all of which are reflected in this piece
"Sabi Girl" began as an experimental exploration of how to incorporate female faces and forms as prominent features in our 2024 collection. I'll be honest, I chose Ayra Starr as the reference image, because of how hot she is, her striking beauty, her perfect facial structure, and her undeniable influence in Nigerian pop culture made her the perfect muse. Ayra Starr is one of the most captivating artists of her time, so it seemed appropriate. She embodies a sense of style, sophistication, and sultriness that aligns perfectly with the themes we wanted to express in this piece.
A great deal of focus was placed on making her eyes the centerpiece of the artwork. The goal was to give them an "all-knowing" look, as though they belong to someone who can read your thoughts—intense, captivating, and deeply expressive. Her eyes are meant to draw you in, making you feel as though they see something hidden within you. While Ayra Starr’s face served as the initial inspiration, we made subtle adjustments to her facial structure. This was done intentionally so the piece wouldn’t be an exact likeness. Instead, it remains anonymous enough for viewers to assign their own meaning to it, allowing them to imagine who their "Sabi Girl" could be.
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The eyes carry a deeper connotation, influenced by the idea of mystery and perception. While creating this piece, I couldn’t help but notice the phonetic similarity between Ayra Starr and Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. Arya Stark’s encounter with Melisandre came to mind, where the Red Priestess told her: "I see a darkness in you, and in that darkness, eyes staring back at me. Brown eyes, blue eyes, green eyes, eyes you’ll shut forever." This inspired the idea that the eyes in "Sabi Girl" should not only hold a profound, unspoken narrative but also suggest a depth of understanding and power.
The term "Sabi Girl" itself refers to someone who "knows" or "understands"—a person with awareness and intelligence, someone who is unapologetically in tune with their own power. In this sense, "Sabi Girl" isn’t just a singular figure but a representation of anyone who identifies with these qualities. This piece invites viewers to interpret it in their own way, projecting their own ideas of what a "Sabi Girl" means to them. Ultimately, it’s not just about the girl in the painting—it’s about how the painting makes you feel, what it reveals about you, and what you see reflected in those all-knowing eyes.
The composition plays with contrasts - gold and charcoal, geometry and fluidity, the structured and the organic. The interplay of shapes and textures creates a sense of depth, pulling the viewer into the subject's world. Every detail, from the sharp angular lines to the delicate pearl necklace, reinforces a sense of quiet sophistication. The eyes remain the focal point - intense, commanding, impossible to ignore. They invite you in, yet remain just out of reach, as if guarding a secret only a true "Sabi Girl" would understand.
"Sabi Girl" is more than a portrait; it is a mirror. It asks the viewer: What do you see? Is it confidence? Mystery? Power? Or something deeper, something personal? This piece is about perception - how we see ourselves, how we see others, and how we navigate a world that often demands we prove what we already know.
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