NEWS

Kofi Boamah OH GOD ! Interview

27.02.23

Opening hours:

27 February - 10 March
9:30-18:00

65 Dalston Lane, London E8 2NG

We sat down with our artist in residence, Kofi Boamah, to find out a bit more about what makes him tick.

Get to know more about Kofi and his work, now through 10 March at our gallery, any week day 9:30 to 18:00.

H.A.B.: Kofi, introduce yourself. How do you describe yourself as an artist?

KB: I’m mainly a painter, but I get inspiration from other things. I get a lot of  inspiration from writing and films: So sometimes I make films, sometimes I write. But mainly I’m a painter.

H.A.B.: What’s your artist’s journey been like? Have you always considered yourself an artist?

KB: I’ve always been into art. It’s always been my thing. I went to Turps for a little while, an art school, just to kind of see what’s going on. But honestly I  just do my own thing. I’ve been painting for over ten years now, so quite a while. Before that I was kind of doing bits and pieces of stuff. Writing, copywriting, stuff like that. So mostly, anything creative. 

H.A.B.: And did you grow up in London?

KB: I’m originally from around here, literally 5 minutes away. 

H.A.B.: Amazing, local. Do you wanna stay here?

KB: I like it here. I’m comfortable here. I feel comfortable, I feel good, definitely. I’ve seen other places but this is the place I feel most comfortable. 

H.A.B.: Would you say there’s a good artist community in the neighbourhood [Dalston]? 

KB: It comes and goes. A few years ago there was a gallery like 5 minutes away, it was a bit of a community space. But it just kind of comes and goes. 

H.A.B.: How would you describe your practice? Has it changed?

KB: I used to do more abstract paintings, less figurative. But I found that to be less inviting to people. I find the work I do now more welcoming. Like the woman who just walked in a few moments ago, who knew nothing about art, and she just said she liked it. I find that kind of difficult to do with abstract. People look at it and feel a bit intimidated.

H.A.B.: Do you work within a specific theme?

KB: Mouths. Mouths. Everything related to mouths. The economy of mouths. The sensuality of the mouth is kind of the most affecting thing that impacts me.

H.A.B.: Biggest inspirations?

KB: Probably Bob Thompson, or Basquiat, or Picasso. There’s Bacon as well. Those are my main inspirations. But just real life, everyday life. Like this painting, this blue painting here, (he points to After Kafka's Dictum: Woman, a cage in search of a bird 2023) everyday situations really. Just everyday things. Honest things.

After Kafka’s Dictum: Woman, a cage in search of a bird (Homage to Condo), 2023, Oil, oil pastel, graphic pencil & acrylics on canvas

H.A.B.: Do you have any artist peers or friends who inspire you?

KB: Wayne. Wayne Holloway* is the artist I see most as inspiration. He doesn’t paint, but if he painted, it would be a huge inspiration for me. He has this very digressive way of approaching art. And I like that. It’s kind of going about things, just seeing what happens.

H.A.B.: Would you consider him a collaborator? Would you ever do something together?

KB: We’re making a book together. He’s doing the writing, I’m doing the images.

H.A.B.: How did you meet?

KB: At one of his openings. We had kind of a weird meeting there. 

We laugh. 

H.A.B.: Do you have any memorable responses to your work?

KB: There was one opening where a woman from Chile came, and she cried in front of one of my paintings. She said she just had a reaction to it. It’s very personal, because you’re coming into someone’s world. You’re bringing yourself, your whole livelihood, all your ideas, and your perspective into someone else’s life. So it’s very personal.

H.A.B.: Does this show in particular have one singular theme behind it or is it a collection of concepts?

KB: It’s an accumulation of the meaning of life. You have this big large painting here (he points to Man With head Full of Sky II (After Miró)), that relates to the heavens. It’s riffing on the idea of God, and the perspectives that we have randomly on the fly.

Man With head Full of Sky II (After Miró), 2021, Oil, oil pastel & acrylics on canvas

H.A.B.: Do you have any parting words for upcoming or young artists? Any advice?

KB: Keep going. It’s gonna get difficult. You just have to battle it out. Do your thing, find your voice, and see what happens.

*Join us for an evening with Kofi and Wayne where they’ll discuss their upcoming book, inspirations, and practices. 8 March 18:00-21:00, 65 Dalston Lane, E8 2NG, London.

H.A.B