Adeolu Osibodu puts us in a trance with his otherworldly photos inspired by nature

The photographer takes inspiration from films and his own dreams, crafting a truly unique oeuvre that is driven by his surroundings in nature.

Date
18 July 2023

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An encounter with Adeolu Osibodu’s photography is akin to your first time finding escapism. Starting out at 18, the Lagos-born, London-based photo artist has gone from documenting plants, clouds and nature to surrealist imagery. Crafted both on the scene and in post-production, his work speaks to the heart of our emotions. “It’s about being able to speak about or witness my surroundings without the use of words,” he says. “Starting out I was watching a lot of movies, recalling my dreams and listening to my urge to create.”

With a penchant for capturing people being at one with nature, his lens dances with the elements – earth, wind, fire and water – with partly obscured figures, who are sometimes in the periphery and sometimes at the centre. “The images don’t necessarily rely on the subjects themselves but more so the situation or scenario they’re in,” he tells us. “They represent my thoughts, ideas or scenes that are in this ‘otherworld’.” And having initially tested out his ideas through self-portraiture, his understanding of the craft is a special one both behind and in front of the camera. It is safe to say that Adeolu has both worldly and otherworldly inspiration at the core of his practice and, by your second encounter, you will find it impossible to avoid dreaming too.

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Adeolu Osibodu: Impermanence (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: The Times You Don’t See Coming (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Mind Orgasm (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2015)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Flock Of Thoughts (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Dreams Of Yesterday (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2023)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Petrol Passion (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2023)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Lie To Me Like This Cold City (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Too True To Be Good (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Too True To Be Good (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Home-Made Scars (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2016)

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Adeolu Osibodu: No Time For Dilemma (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2020)

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Adeolu Osibodu: It Only Starts To Make Sense When It’s Too Late (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2019)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Home Is A Masterpiece (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2020)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Home Is A Masterpiece (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2020)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Heavy For Tomorrow (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2022)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Saggios By The Door (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2019)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Effervescent (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2019)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Effervescent (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2019)

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Adeolu Osibodu: For All The Pain That Lies Ahead (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2021)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Hard To Believe (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2021)

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Adeolu Osibodu: Second Thoughts (Copyright © Adeolu Osibodu, 2021)

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About the Author

Yaya Azariah Clarke

Yaya (they/them) was previously a staff writer at It’s Nice That. With a particular interest in Black visual culture, they have previously written for publications such as WePresent, alongside work as a researcher and facilitator for Barbican and Dulwich Picture Gallery.

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