Moyosore Martins bridges abstract, figurative, and iconographic symbolism. As he expresses the beauty in the figure and the depth of its subject, he is obsessed with a cartoon-like character that imbues his iconography, and that has a deep symbolic meaning to him. His approach is genuinely narrative and realistic in early works, returning to his childhood memories. The African statue becomes increasingly more present and spiritually meaningful in his work. He becomes fascinated with contemporary plastic toy statues and collectibles from artists like Koz, representing everything new and different in juxtaposition to the traditional African figures. A seminal work, "The Watchman," resonates. The African figure is interpreted by Martins as the man taking on his destiny, with a nod to his experience working as a night watchman in the Bronx—a lasting impression.
