by Muzaffar shehu

Artwork Description

Ancient street in Kano

2017

140.0 x 100.0 cm

Oil on canvas and landscape

This landscape painting captures the essence of an ancient street in Kano, reflecting a rich cultural and architectural heritage. The scene is dominated by traditional mud-walled structures, showcasing the distinct earthy tones that characterize the historic architecture of the city. The walls, with their irregular textures, evoke a sense of timelessness, representing the resilience of these ancient constructions. The street is alive with human activity, as people dressed in simple, traditional attire walk along the narrow path. The figures in the foreground, including a woman carrying goods on her head, suggest a daily life steeped in tradition, a connection to Kano's cultural roots. The group of children and adults walking through the scene also highlights the communal lifestyle that has been a hallmark of this city for centuries. The overall color palette is warm and muted, dominated by shades of brown, orange, and ochre, which reflects the desert surroundings and the materials used in constructing the walls and streets. The presence of shadows and distant figures adds depth, emphasizing the narrow, winding nature of the streets typical of ancient Kano city. The distant blue sky contrasts subtly with the warm tones below, suggesting an open, expansive landscape beyond the confines of the historic street. This composition offers a glimpse into the past, a time when mud walls and simple architecture shaped the aesthetic and functional aspects of life in Kano, and where the streets were more than just pathways—they were arteries of community and culture.

Artwork Details

Medium: Painting Oil

Genre: Landscape