Incongru

INCONGRU MAGAZINE

Visual Art

The Weight they can’t see, 2026. Oil on canvas, 18 × 15 inches.

This painting explores the invisible physical and emotional burdens many women experience during their monthly cycle. While pain, fatigue, cramps, mood changes, and discomfort are deeply felt, they often remain unseen by others. Yet, despite these challenges, many women continue to work, care for their families, support others, and fulfil their daily responsibilities.

The work reflects on the expectation to remain composed and productive even when the body demands rest. The figure’s expression becomes a reflection of both physical discomfort and the emotional weight of having to continue despite it.

Beyond the experience of a monthly cycle, the painting speaks to the broader reality of carrying struggles that are not immediately visible. It invites viewers to look beyond outward appearances and consider the unseen experiences that shape women’s everyday lives.

This painting serves as a meditation on empathy, endurance, and the quiet strength required to carry what others cannot see.

Detail view of the figure’s expression reflecting both physical discomfort and the emotional weight of perseverance. 

Flourish Oyinlola (b. 2002) is a Nigerian contemporary visual artist from Oyo State, based in Ibadan. Working primarily in oil on canvas, his practice employs geometric figuration and fragmented, mosaic-like forms to explore identity, memory, resilience, and cultural consciousness. His visual language draws from indigenous symbols, collective memory, and lived experience, bridging heritage with contemporary life. Oyinlola holds a B.Tech in Fine and Applied Arts from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology and was mentored by Nigerian artist Okunade Olamilekan. He has participated in group exhibitions and collaborative projects, with his works held in private collections in Nigeria and internationally.