Hafizat Adegbile “Navigating the Labyrinth: Exploring ‘The Race Series'”

Written by Ade Olusola Kunmi

‘The Race Series’, this body of work by Hafizat Adegbile serves as a poignant reflection on the relentless pursuit of success, framed through the lens of anthropomorphized rodents juxtaposed onto human figures.

At the core of this series lies a striking metaphor: the transformation of human faces into those of rats. This clever manipulation immediately challenges viewers to confront the parallels between the rat race and our own lives, where individuals often find themselves trapped in a cycle of mundane routines, symbolized by the relentless pursuit of material gain.

The first piece, ‘The worker’, depicts a human figure adorned with the face of a rat. Through this surreal amalgamation, the artist vividly captures the essence of the daily grind, where individuals navigate through life’s challenges, resembling rodents scurrying through a maze. The rat’s face serves as a potent reminder of the dehumanizing effects of modern-day capitalism, where individuals are reduced to mere cogs in the machinery of economic productivity.

In ‘Death and the Government Cheese’, the artist delves deeper into the darker realities of the rat race. Here, a haunting image of a man with a rat face is depicted, hanging from a noose with a piece of cheese tantalizingly out of reach. This poignant composition speaks volumes about the desperation and hopelessness that pervades society, as individuals are driven to the brink by the relentless pursuit of success. The juxtaposition of the cheese on a fork serves as a stark reminder of the illusory rewards that await those who sacrifice their well-being for societal expectations.

Continuing the narrative, ‘Pay Me My Wages’ portrays a figure with a rat face assuming the role of a boss, distributing small pieces of cheese to subordinate rats. This piece powerfully captures the hierarchical structures within the rat race, where individuals vie for limited resources while perpetuating a system of exploitation and inequality. The artist’s use of symbolism underscores the inherent injustices embedded within our socio-economic framework, as the pursuit of wealth comes at the expense of human dignity and solidarity.

What sets ‘The Race Series’ apart is its ability to provoke introspection and critical dialogue about the nature of contemporary existence. Through masterful manipulation of imagery and symbolism, the artist invites viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the societal constructs that govern our lives. In doing so, ‘The Race Series’ serves as a potent reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and solidarity in transcending the confines of the rat race and forging a path towards collective liberation.

Hafizat Adegbile’s journey into the world of art began when she was 15 years old with a modest present from her father: a camera. Her father owned a photography studio, and her mother painted, so Hafizat was no stranger to the creative process. She would use her camera to romanticise even the most ordinary aspects of everyday existence. She honed her skills and developed an eye for frames and composition over time, resulting in a distinct style that symbolises and captures her vision for the broader audience

Hafizat studied Computer Science at the University of Ibadan, she took advantage of the chance by improving her understanding of visual editing applications. She would use these tools to curate feelings that corresponded to the thoughts in her head. “If a photo I took is not totally expressing what I wanted it to express, I take it to my computer and modify it to tell the story I want it to tell.”