The Power of Art and Poetry: Meeting Lanre Olagoke on my Path

There is a story I want to tell you… It was a chance meeting.

We were walking in London along with my family when my husband noticed a painting in the window of a gallery, he casually said: “Oh what a nice painting” and walked on. I stopped and looked and told him and the other family members to go on with out me.

I stepped inside. I stepped inside of a treasure box. I stepped as if I was Alice in Alice in Wonderland, but in this case it was Bahareh in reality land.  I walked in and said hello and asked the nice gentleman behind the table, if these were his art works.  He was sitting talking to a lady, I did not want to interrupt, but I wanted to learn more. And that is exactly what happened.

He, Lanre, got up and walked over to me and said yes, this is all my art, I have been painting for 30 years. It was an incredible experience as if a connection of brother and sister from another time, but same womb have come together.  There was a gentle understanding that we saw each other.

Lanre started to tell me his story in detail. I will tell you that I was drawn in instantly to the story of a man who was originally from Nigeria born in UK and lived in Nigeria for many years, and then moved to London with his family at age 19.  He was attending a great university, when he knew he really wanted to pursue art. As he states because of lack of understanding of his passion by his family, he was not supported and so was left without anything and ended up on the streets homeless and addicted to drugs and on the verge of giving up.

“A chance encounter with an Irish man, who had served 20 years in prison, gave Lanre a change in perspective. He encouraged Lanre to use his gift – his artistic talent, to help those who were in prison.” He was given a second chance as he says. He has helped over 5000 ex-offenders and inmates learn skills. He also works with victims of crime, with schools, colleges and businesses.  The story and the lives he has touched in the past 30 years are truly amazing. Please look at his work, and his life and the beautiful steps he has taken to help thousands of people through the beautiful medium of heart, light and color.

His story was a touching one as there was both Light and Dark moments,but all in all the Light shined through Lanre’s words and his paintings that we were surrounded with while he told me his story. The lady a mentee of Lanre,  that was sitting at the table when I walked in came over to us, and she said you know what, I had always seen despair in his these paintings, but now I begin to see the true light and hope.

Lanre walked over to the window of his gallery and brought the painting my husband had noticed and I had inquired about..

He turned it around and started writing on the back. This is what he wrote:

“My dearest sister,

Bahareh Amidi,

I am so blessed to have reconnected with you.

This is the Lord’s doing, it is marvelous in my eyes.

Lots of love

Lanre

December 31^st 2013

God bless”

He handed me the beautiful painting called “The Tree of Life”. Imagine this gift, does it not sound like “Alice in Wonderland” to you? I accepted humbly, and I knew I was touched by Light at that moment. There is always a reason for every meeting, every breath.

The painting hangs in our home, she gives grace and abundance and fills my heart and soul with the gift of Life and Light.

Words can not express gratitude, but words can express the feelings of this experience. Later that evening I wrote to Lanre:

Colors of Light

A deep breath in and I enter a prison cell

I was just walking around with my family

But the divine had other plans for me on this day last of year

The cell I walked into was made of color and Light

There I met a brother, one I knew from another time

He told me the story of how he has helped so many 

in the cell

“The Cell Empty of Light” 

I found myself intrigued… 

I was taken to a place and time before

When I was walking on the street

When I met a man with color on his hands 

but no home to sleep

A man of honor and dignity

This man I know

L ove

A ble

N oble

R ooted

E ternal 

My brother who has found his wings in flight

My brother who gives others wings to fly

The dear artist who has roots deep into mother earth

The brother whose vision is bringing art to all

I am humbled by the connections of Light

Today I feel the blessing of the “Tree of Life” on my path

Today I have seen the “Walking To the Light”

I thank thee for this day 

for this message for the messenger in disguise

I thank thee for the beauty for the creations and the creator

A breath out and I know that I have been shown Light

Happy New Year

Bahareh

Lanre and I have been in contact since that day. Only a few months have passed,  but this story has touched so many lives and has had a ripple affect in my universe. I wanted to share this story with you, and to recall some of its hues and tones for myself.  I know that we will host Lanre sometime in the future in Abu Dhabi. His art needs to find space in our homes and hearts and more so his story must inspire more of us to give of ourselves and touch others.

Lanre has expressed that when he comes here, that whatever he sells of his art 20percent of his sales will go to a cause here in our home of Abu Dhabi.  I have started dreaming of the lives and hearts he will touch when he comes. The places we will visit, schools, universities, prisons, hospitals, labor camps and so much more. Don’t worry, I will take him to the Grand Mosque and all the sites, for his heart will glow with the beauties of what man has made out of desert land.

So to welcoming Lanre to Abu Dhabi when the time is right.
Truly and always

InLight

Bahareh

Learn more about Lanre on a Art Live interview Saved by Art

P.S. Incase you were wondering what my family was doing all that time, they were having tea, and when I came back with painting in hand my husband was stunned with its beauty but more so with the gesture, and he went back to meet Lanre and to thank him personally.