Working directly from originals like this one in the British Museum, I captured the Oba's commanding presence through hiearachical scale, towering over attendants to echo his divine authority in the ancient Benin Empire. These plaques were more than art; they cronicled palace life , triumphs, and rituals on royal walls, and through my series, I painted new life into them while sparking thoughts on their enduring legacy and repatriation debates.

This intricate watercolor painting meticulously re-creates a detailed high-relief of a Kingdom of Benin Oba and his retinue. The central Oba figure, adorned with his iconic beaded regalia and coral crown, is flanked by five attendant figures, including guards, musicians, and pages, based on historical bronze plaques. Using a rich, monochromatic bronze and sepia watercolor palette, I captured the complex textures of the figures and their traditional garments and weapons.

In this watercolor painting, I used a palette of sepia and earth tones to intricately replicate the deep texture and aged patina of a historical Benin bronze plaque. The central focus is a detailed figure of a warrior-king, with his traditional feathered headdress and sword, surrounded by stylized floral rosettes. My primary goal was to use watercolor to build a persuasive illusion of corroded metal, giving the flat paper a profound, sculptural relief-like quality. The artwork is presented in a natural light and includes my own handwritten notations and signature directly on the paper beneath the central image.

In this watercolor, I’ve captured the regal presence of a Benin Queen Mother head, meticulously rendering the intricate latticework of her crown and the high coral-bead collar. I used layered washes of cool indigo and warm sepia to simulate the reflective sheen and weighted mass of cast bronze on paper. By emphasizing sharp highlights and deep shadows, I aimed to give the two-dimensional surface a striking, three-dimensional sculptural feel. This piece reflects my deep respect for the craftsmanship of the Benin Empire and is signed in the lower left corner.

In this watercolor I have used a warm palette of ochre and sepia to capture the stately presence of a Benin court official as seen on a traditional bronze plaque. My technique focuses on replicating the stippled background and the metallic, weathered texture of the original work, creating a sculptural depth that belies the watercolor medium. The figure is depicted with meticulous detail, from the conical headdress to the ceremonial staff, set against a background of delicate floral rosettes.

In this watercolor I explored the concept of royal lineage by depicting a 16th-century Benin King and his successor as they appear on a traditional bronze plaque. Through careful layering of earth tones and precise highlights, I aimed to recreate the metallic sheen and heavy relief of the original artifact, giving the flat paper a sense of weight and history. The composition captures the intricate patterns of the ceremonial regalia and the floral motifs of the background, honoring the sophisticated artistry of the Benin Empire.

In this watercolor titled "Portuguese," I have depicted the encounter between cultures as recorded on a historical Benin bronze plaque. I focused on capturing the distinct costume and facial features of the central Portuguese figure, utilizing varying shades of sepia to suggest the depth and relief of the original cast metal. By surrounding the plaque with soft, atmospheric washes, I wanted to emphasize its presence as a singular artifact of significant cultural heritage.

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, Lodon.

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London

Watercolour of Benin plaques painted in The British Museum, African Galleries, London