Kwamena

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My aim is to project Afrikan classical history & culture in a more truthful and positive light, demystifying any former misconceptions of its relevance to contemporary time. As one will find that Ancient Afrikan influences to be THE ROOT of so-called modern civilisation. Just as the saying goes “THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN”.One scholar has stated, “He who remains ignorant of history is doomed to repeat history.” Certainly, the persistence of our psychological, social and economic dependence on the former slaveholders and colonisers is evidence of the validity of this adage. The intensity and brutality of the slave-making experience traumatized our social and human development. Though many writers have spoken of slavery, few scholars have addressed the continuity of the behaviours established in slavery as a continuing aspect of Afrikan psychology.Thus during the last two years one has tried to use ones art as a tool of empowerment and inspiration to Afrikan people living in Britain (Globally as well). Since there is an ever increasing number of so-called Black On Black violence which is evidence of the amount of distrust and self-hatred amongst the Afrikan community. In which one would call the mental slavery.Just as Bob Marley said in Redemption song: “Emancipate your selves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our mind…” Thus Afrikan artists must deal with the reality (If aware) that minds the of Afrikans are still in-salved. And one way of breaking the chains of the mental slavery is by recolonising our minds with our traditions, value systems, languages, rituals, and sciences which enabled us to create and develop great civilization. But first and foremost reclaim our minds… A simple way the RT HON Marcus Mosiah Garvey once said was “buy black, think Black, and all else will take care of itself…” In a media saturated society the importance of imagery & its deeper meanings are very important… Thus on my travels to Afrika in particular Ghana, my current ancestral home land which is imbued with tradition & culture. I was inspired to pass on some the energy and wisdom I gained on my visit. Thus I chose a theme called Sankofa…Sankofa is an Akan (Akan proverb, which literally means: “Return and pick up, or go back and fetch what was good for you in order to move one forward. This is often said to remind traditional communities of the wisdom of Elders and Ancestry, for one should search for the positive aspects of the forgotten, ignored and concealed past to guide present and unborn generations.Uncompleted Sankofa The incompleteness of the Sankofa painting should be emphasised as Afrikan people globally still haven’t completed their duties which ultimately is to do and live MAAT – righteousness, truth, justice, knowledge, wisdom, understanding, and harmony with the laws of nature. (This was used in Ancient Afrika, especially Kemet.)For me Art should have more than aesthetic appreciation just as commentators before myself have stated a painting can say more than a 1000 words. My paintings consist of Afrikan cultural traditions, its importance lies in the representation of the culture. My inspiration comes from my ancestors who came before me, mother and father god of the universe, the Global Afrikan community, classical civilisations and my family and peers around me. I mainly use figurative paintings to emphasise and transcribe my ideas and concepts. Over the past three years my scope of art and its importance has greatly increased, especially in relation to the afrikan community and myself. I bring a three dimensionality to my paintings. Peers and friends often comment, “The paintings look so real”…I represent Akan & Afrikan culture. I’ve found that my work is similar to artist such as Eddy Chambers, Pablo Barret, Akawali Walters, Keith Piper, Dr. Rosalind R Jeffries, Nadine Bell, Jenifer Lewis, Plus many many more... Givethanks & Blessing to U...