INCONGRU MAGAZINE

---

Visual Art

Paper Skin forms part of the Yonki series, an exploration of identity and the multiplicity of selves presented to the world. The masked visage represents the outer facade permitted for others to witness, while the metaphor of “paper skin” speaks to how fragile, mutable, and artificially constructed that identity can be.

Through Yonki, the work investigates the delicate space between who we truly are, how we are perceived, and the hidden fragments kept sequestered away. It invites viewers to reflect upon the identities they carry and what might quietly exist beneath the surface.

Paper is inherently fragile—vulnerable to tearing or water damage that instantly exposes whatever lies beneath. Much like the material, a “paper skin” is sometimes employed to shield vulnerable parts of the self while offering the world only a curated view. Yet, the work poses an inevitable question: what happens when the surface can no longer hold?

Motunolabi Adesemoye is a contemporary Nigerian visual artist and painter whose practice explores identity, memory, culture, and belonging. Her work investigates the multifaceted versions of the self that exist between origins, external perceptions, and ongoing personal evolution. Working primarily with figurative imagery, she develops compelling characters and visual symbols that allow her to navigate these complex themes in a deeply personal and resonant way.