Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmanuel Opoku

Hi Emmanuel, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

At the age of 14, I found a passion for wood carving and joined a group to hone my skills and make some extra money during middle school. As a high school student, I took on large-scale portrait commissions to develop my artistic abilities. My father later encouraged me to prioritize my education by not bringing the commissions home.

Driven by my passion, I completed my BFA in painting at KNUST and later pursued my MFA in sculpture at the University of Florida. Pursuing art in the US, I took the opportunity to reflect on my experiences in Ghana, examining the intersection of art practice and cultural dynamics from both perspectives. This exploration led me to focus my artistic research on the idealistic experience of the diaspora.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I believe artists are courageous individuals. We take the risk of either achieving smooth success or struggling for the long term until we finally reach a point of success. Personally, in order to pursue art within my family, I needed to come up with a strategic idea to convince my parents to support my artistic practice, as they expected me to choose a career that would offer me a job right after school. During my time in college, I frequently discussed successful Ghanaian artists with my parents. “Mom, look at this piece. It was made of jute sacks and tattered charcoal bags by an artist called Ibrahim Mahama. His work could even sell for a million dollars.” The idea was always to mention a substantial amount of money. My mother did not hesitate to hire strong men to uproot a big palm nut tree for me when I was featured in a group exhibition titled “Silence Between the Lines.” My passion for art has grown ever since. Although my style has evolved over the course of my career, the drive to create unique art objects has always remained unchanged. The goal is to create a timeline for my own history.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

Throughout my career, my artwork has been characterized as mysteriously comical. I believe that comics play a vital role in our well-being as humans. In my art, I deconstruct objects using the concept of postproduction and critically decode the material as a metaphor for existing ideas that are constantly manipulated. Employing humor within a narrative, I explore the structure of human society. I embrace a surrealistic approach as a symbol of boundless freedom, which I find significant to contemporary life.

I take great pride in my ability to create artwork. I believe that the power to create is a remarkable gift. In art, where individuality and keen observation are paramount, I understand that I play a role in shaping how we perceive the world. Therefore, I emphasize the importance of staying current as a contemporary artist, recognizing that humans have an insatiable appetite for new experiences.

In my opinion, as artists, we all share similar characteristics but with slight variations, such as ambition and creativity. I believe that one’s style is the only thing that can distinguish them from others, as it gives an artist their unique identity. During my time at art school at KNUST, each student was expected to develop their style, with the idea that “wherever people see our artwork, they should be able to recognize it without needing to look at the label.” For example, artists like Yaw Owusu, Ibrahim Mahama, and El Anatsui have distinctive styles characterized by repetition and a focus on the materials they use. A style is an aesthetic form that reflects behavior and experience and encourages exploration of the essence of the artwork.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?

I am motivated by the possibilities of art, and I find inspiration by observing other artists and their practice. My ultimate goal is to never give up on my career as an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://opokuarts.com
• Instagram: _opokuemmanuel
• Facebook: Emmanuel Manu Opoku