On a 40”x 40”, oil and acrylic on canvas, multidisciplinary artist, Shaquille-Aaron Keith presented his 2023 “Blooming into the Future (Let’s Stay Together)” composition at the FNB Art Joburg Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa. ​

Keith portrays an exhilarating masterpiece showcasing a visual representation of sheet music as the framework that fills the background of the design. The music sheet reads the song lyrics of Al Green's  ‘Let’s Stay Together’ foreshadowing the artist's ideology of his future in hopes of creating a family. Centered at the top, ‘Let's Stay Together’ pieces with the family of flowers portrayed in the middle, complementing the entirety of the craft. In colorful composition, the petals of the flowers convey different character personalities as they detail metaphors. 

Closely capturing each illustration of the characters is complemented with achievements, growth, and modern family affiliations of school and world experiences. These features include Coke can petal curlers, teenage son with baby seed formula, dad travel business case, sweet daughter with Milo baby formula, power to the people cap, the children (seeds), the children drew a sun, a proud daughter achievement (English Literature Exam Results), baby seeds have grown, and baby bees first flight.

While recognizing each detail, Keith invites us into an atmosphere of himself in the world while demonstrating surrealism, culture, and growth. Submerged in originality, his accompanying poem presents his vulnerability towards a rumination of himself as authentic emotions are characterized by entailing a story that recognizes personal human identity that longs for a specific relationship in hopes of a future. 

I admit;

I was once one out for the gusto,

Succumbing to temptations of the flesh 

And idolising lust though,

These are the not the standards I hold for myself. 

it would seem I’ve allowed 

King Solomon’s ideology to place them 

On a near, but distant shelf.

How many concubines

to comprise 

True happiness?

One lover, under covers

With an array of seeds 

is true happy bliss.

Kiss after kiss, 

Gaze after gaze,

Held between you and I consistently 

Is realer than 

A new face every other day 

I guess I never knew what I had till

You left 

Little did I know 

Even on my worst days 

You were trying to 

bring out my best.

But you met resistance 

From I. 

Now I’m surrounded by strangers,

none who are mates to thy-own soul,

Now I’m surrounded by takers,

None whom I can see they and I growing old.

Empty relationships?

I know I’m finished with.

Unhappy dictatorships?

Sounds so ridiculous. 

I come back to you, 

but not as a retreat,

Only due to fact that with you,

It was then I was truly

complete.

Forgive my negligence,

And let us never look back, 

Can we photosynthesis into

The idea of a future

With little ones, a home 

and all of that? 

Stormin’ through any weather,

Truly living Al Green lyrics of;

‘let’s Stay together’,

And

Before the end 

And we lay in our tomb 

Let us plant seeds

Let me bless your womb,

So no man can separate what we create.

Allow me to be your true love introducer,

Thoughts thunk, thinking about you and I,

Blooming into the future.

In an instagram post, Keith reflects on the honor of presenting his project alongside those who helped contribute: 

“2nd time showing in South Africa this year, and an honour to be part of @fnbartjoburg, Africas longest and Oldest art fair, that only shows the best works, galleries and artists… alongside my family @eclecticacontemporary, it’s an honour to share a space with some of the best Artists/galleries in motherland and beyond… thank you to everyone person who came and showed out and showed some love, I’ll remember every conversation… and thank you to my buyer, grateful for blooming into the future to be going to a beautiful home also… to many more wins in the remaining months of 2023 for us all”

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