"Breaking News," 2022, by Bassey Asukwo

In "Breaking News," the arresting figure of a woman looms against a backdrop that whispers of confusion and clamor, a canvas resonant with the tumult of the world's heartache and the unspoken resilience of humanity. Bassey Asukwo's masterpiece, a vibrant 36-inch square of acrylic narrative, speaks a language of contrast and perseverance, harmonizing the dissonance of our era with a silent, stoic grace.

She embodies endurance amidst chaos, a testament to the quiet strength that whispers through the veins of the weary. The newspaper she holds—a mélange of disquieting headlines—is both a shield and a testament. 'Bombs' and 'illegal trafficking' are the words that pepper the daily lexicon of our existence, igniting the airwaves with a palpable tension. Yet, in her grip, they are rendered almost powerless, their ability to incite fear diminished by her unwavering composure.

The woman's visage, a blend of geometric abstraction and rich, emotional coloration, carries multiple stories within its lines. Her eyes, two pools of depth behind round spectacles, reflect a world seen but not conquered by the darkness it often presents. Her face, partly obscured by a mask of brilliant hues, suggests our multifaceted identity. Each color and pattern on her skin speaks of battles fought and won, personal triumphs and losses, the pieces of ourselves we show the world, and those we keep hidden.

The woman's attire, a swath of blue emblazoned with symbols, is the banner under which she stands—a cape of heroism in an ordinary world. The symbols, reminiscent of ancient glyphs, suggest a connection to a past that has weathered storms of its own, echoing the cyclic nature of human trials. This garment envelops her, not as a means of hiding but as a declaration of her presence, her reality amidst the symbolic cacophony that swirls around her, a beacon of hope in the midst of uncertainty.

The background, a muddled grey palette, serves as the stormy sea upon which her character's vibrancy sails. It represents the uncertainty of our times and the myriad challenges that the world presents, yet it is also a canvas awaiting new strokes of color, new narratives of hope and change.

In this space, Asukwo has encapsulated the ceaseless hum of life's machinery—the constant barrage of information, the relentless progression of time, and the inescapable noise of existence. Yet, against this seemingly insurmountable backdrop, the figure stands out not just for her colorful defiance but for her calm in the storm—the quietude in her posture, the unwavering gaze that seems to transcend the turmoil.

This piece does not shout; it does not need to. Its message is as clear as it is profound: within the cacophony of our world, there is strength in silence, power in stillness, and hope even within the pages of 'Breaking News.' It reminds us that amidst the onslaught of hardships that life throws our way, our enduring spirit is the true headline. We are the living, breathing embodiment of resilience, each of us a vibrant splash of paint on the monochromatic canvas of existence, each of us enduring despite the greatest of hardships. This is a call to find strength in our own silence, power in our stillness, and hope in the chaos.