Celebrated Ghanaian artist Kojo Marfo is renowned for his beautiful and undeniably vivid works. They are influenced by traditional Akan sculptures, carvings, and other art forms from his formative years and his experiences living in the terrain of New York City.
These influences have led him to forge an aesthetic that is uniquely his own: bold, daring, and different. Marfo views art as a medium to delve into his cultural heritage and to shed light on societal issues. His evocative paintings, brimming with symbols and motifs, bring depth and complexity to his oeuvre. The Akan Fertility Doll is a pivotal source of inspiration for him, blending seamlessly with art-historical references to illustrate shared human stories and personal experiences.
The Akan people perceive themselves as a unified nation. The term "Akan" translates to "first and foremost," symbolizing enlightenment and civilization. Embracing this heritage, Marfo has reimagined the fertility doll, presenting it with curvaceous forms and serene, dignified expressions. Adorned with traditional beads and Elizabethan ruffs, these figures pay tribute to the fashion choices of bygone eras while melding the old with the new. His emphasis on the Vitiligo skin condition, which results in pale white patches on the skin, repositions it as a beauty feature in his portraits, narrating a story in itself.
