The emergence of new arts initiatives, prizes and platforms is showcasing the continent’s best image-makers.
In the quest to put them in the spotlight, CNN Style asked four of the African arts scene’s most prominent figures to choose their favorite photographers.
Prince Gyasi, a Ghanaian photographer who shared his experience as an artist with CNN Style said his love for taking pictures started when he was a child.
“When I was four years old, my mother would often go fabric shopping at Makola Market, one of Accra’s biggest shopping places. She would drop me off at this photographer’s small studio. I would always dress well, usually in my denim jacket and pants, because I knew he would take pictures of me with his camera. I’d follow him around the market just to see him photograph people, and anytime he didn’t show up to work, I would cry.
“I had aspirations of becoming an abstract painter but found love in creating art with my iPhone.
“The city of Accra inspires me to keep creating. The people, the colors that make up the flag of Ghana inspire me to create more.
“As a co-founder of (the non-profit education organization) Boxed Kids, I will keep telling the stories of the kids in Jamestown and Ghana in general. People need to know about the culture and our story.
“I believe the norm is not for everyone. I’m different. I would rather people call me a visual artist. I do not want to be recognized as a photographer, but as an artist. Most of my images look like paintings from afar because they are art pieces, not photographs. I want to leave a legacy in the art world.”
About Prince Gyasi
Prince Gyasi is a Ghanaian international visual artist. He is the co-founder of Boxedkids, a non-profit organization helping kids from Accra, Ghana get an education.
Prince started taking pictures in 2011 and bought his first iPhone in 2014 which is the primary tool he uses in creating his art pieces. He began with snapshots of friends, family and models from his hometown of Ghana and then realized he could seriously use his phone as an arts creation tool, as a means of expression.
He using an iPhone to shoot is a way to distinguish his art from other visual artists and photographers to break the codes of this singular and elitist art. His work is all about conveying feelings through colors and giving the floor to the people that are left aside from the society.
He indeed considers his use of colors as a source of therapy to his audience. Motherhood, Fatherhood, childhood can be considered as his most characteristic themes.Prince Gyasi was signed to Nil Gallery Paris in 2018 which gave him the chance to exhibit his art pieces at multiple art fairs in the USA.
He has exhibited in the Seattle Contemporary Art fair, Texas Contemporary Art Fair, Artsy & Context Art Miami and pulse Contemporary Art Fair (Art Basel Miami). Prince has also exhibited some of his works at the Investec Capetown Art Fair in South Africa.
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By: ghanaweekend.com
