Joy as a Tangible, Life-Defining Choice
While often associated as an emotion you experience (or a little, bright yellow orb of a core memory), joy can be transformative and life-defining, a limitless choice you can make if you just surrender to it. Yet, while some may experience the emotion as a bright light that brings warmth to their core, British-Nigerian designer and artist Yinka Ilori believes joy is a tangible thing that can be developed—and his immersive animated film, Omi Okun, which premiered on June 6 in Chicago as part of the city’s public art project, Art on The Mart, is Ilori’s artistic expression of the building of joy.
Often recognized as the “architect of joy” due to his ability to turn everyday public spaces into technicolor-curated playgrounds, Ilori believes joy has a look, a shape, and a color. The artist’s traditional formula has been described by Ilori as “high-saturation pinks and yellows and oranges and blues that really uplift our souls,” geometric patterns, and the circle, which is a symbol of community in his design language.
Yet, Ilori’s most recent work adds new elements to his classic formula for joy. A 25-story building in the Windy City’s downtown Riverwalk has been turned into a canvas, with nearly three dozen digital projectors bringing Ilori’s own childhood memories with prayer to life via video installation on The Mart building.
The Visual and Spiritual Journey of Omi Okun
Ilori’s roughly 15-minute film, Omi Okun (which means “sea water” in Yoruba), details the artist’s spiritual journey growing up within a Pentecostal Aladura church in London. In his hometown, the artist and his family went to the South London church, which belongs to a religious tradition started by the Yoruba people in Nigeria that dates back to the early 20th century. The film explores the journey of a young boy in the church (reflecting Ilori’s journey) who experiences the power of prayer and incense, which moves him and his church community from London to the English coastal town of Margate.
Inspired by his ritualistic, bimonthly trips with his church to the sea at Margate to be cleansed by the ocean waters, Ilori expresses how he and his family derived strength, comfort, and joy from this community of fellow Nigerian immigrants in London, connecting as they navigated the obstacles of securing British citizenship and supporting Ilori through his thorough design education.
In the film, Ilori expresses the power of the gifts of prayer when, after “drowning in the blessings” of the sea, the boy and his church are swallowed by the ocean until they appear in a brightly colored utopia. The artist stated, “It’s a magical place that’s like, ‘This can’t be real…’ But it’s real because you’ve prayed for it, you’ve got it, and you’ve believed in it.”
The animation vividly brings to life the artist’s memories of vibrant church gatherings, the soothing yet powerful presence of the sea, and the communal spirit that bound his community together. These elements combine to create a powerful narrative that emphasizes the importance of faith, hope, and communal support in finding joy.
Despite Omi Okun honoring Ilori’s personal journey with the church, prayers, and beliefs that have stayed with him from childhood through his career, Ilori stated, “It’s [the film] less about trying to impose or force faith and religion in your face. It’s about the bigger theme of hope and joy that every type of faith gives you, whether you are Buddhist or Muslim or Christian or whatever your religion is.”
Bringing Joy to the Masses
Ilori’s film will be projected onto Chicago’s The Mart building at 9 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. CT every evening until September 11. The projection of Omi Okun on such a large and prominent public canvas underscores the artist’s commitment to making joy accessible to all. It transforms a simple urban environment into a shared space of reflection and celebration, inviting onlookers to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of Ilori’s memories and artistic vision.
The choice to premiere Omi Okun in Chicago, a city known for its rich cultural diversity and artistic vibrancy, aligns perfectly with Ilori’s message of universal joy. By sharing his deeply personal story through a medium that can be enjoyed by a broad audience, Ilori bridges cultural and geographical gaps, highlighting the shared human experience of seeking and finding joy.
Ilori’s work serves as a reminder that joy is not just an emotion but a deliberate choice and practice. His ability to capture and convey this through his art offers inspiration and encouragement to all who encounter his work. The projection of Omi Okun on The Mart building is more than just an artistic display; it is an invitation to experience, reflect on, and cultivate joy in our own lives.
