Eugene Ankomah is also known as EA, is a UK based Artist, born in London UK to Ghanaian parents. Is one of the most exciting, gifted and versatile young artists in the UK today. A former child prodigy, he is a respected international multidisciplinary Visual Artist and personality with an ever-expanding reputation and prolific body of work. His innovative work has included painting (his primary practice), design, installation, costume, set design, digital art, sculpture, printmaking, performance, sound art and writing. Ankomah is also well known for creating different often challenging “characters” or “personas” designed to front his powerful but often political, social and community cohesion focused works (awarded many times). He is a unique, ever-changing Visual Artist often cited as an inspiration to many, especially young artists and creatives.
He is a groundbreaking Artist who has rightly been noted as such by the media and followers of his innovative, forward-thinking and sometimes provocative art subversive Art. A media favourite, he and his work have appeared in countless media outlets in the UK and internationally and continues to be in demand. His subject matter has included race, spirituality, identity amongst others. His eclectic work often reflects an ongoing fascination with the notion of Fear in our contemporary times. Difficult to categorize as an artist his work, yet his powerful creations have the ability to surprise and puzzle in equal measure.
Self-taught or art school?
As an artist, I consider myself self-taught, although I did go to art school. From a very young age, I constantly drew – boxes, three- dimensional shapes, as I was also fascinated with shading. I also made things like constructing my own slippers by collecting various materials around me such as the sole of old shoes, I would find tiny nails and take my father’s small hammer. I would then find some glue we had at home and other bits then create my own versions of slippers I saw around. Now, I look back and think what the hell! I can now see why people considered me an unusual child.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
What an interesting question! I am actually intrigued by how other people create and therefore have many works of art I would love to own. I will go for one of the pieces I idolised as a very young artist. It’s Rembrandt’s “Belshazzar’s Feast”, an oil painting on canvas made in 1635. This painting, I believe is owned by the National Gallery, London. It depicts a dramatic biblical scene. Belshazzar of Babylon takes sacred golden and silver vessels from the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem by his predecessor Nebuchadnezzar. Using these holy items, the King and his court praise ‘the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone’. Immediately, the disembodied fingers of a human hand appear and write on the wall of the royal palace the words “MENE”, “MENE”, “TEKEL”, UPHARSIN, which means God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; TEKEL, you have been weighed … and found wanting;” and “PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. The drama, movement and sense of surprise in the face of the King made such an impression on me as a young artist studying and reading about art history. I also couldn’t get enough of the way Rembrandt has painted the costume, the jewellery and still life in the whole piece. The use of light and dark, also known as chiaroscuro (light and dark) inspired some of my earlier works such as the painting ‘Elijah Ascending To Heaven’.
How would you describe your style?
Sometimes I do not like the word “style”, as I feel somewhat restricted by it. Having said that, of course, I perfectly get the idea that some artists do have a signature way of creating which leads to the idea of “style”. As some may know, me and my work changes periodically and quite a bit. I’m not the same year in year out, as I keep re-inventing what I do. However, I would say my current paintings fall into a kind of “naive expressionism”. My fashion sense is self-created and largely symbolic, as it’s an extension of my work. I have new never before seen innovative works launching soon- by mid-2021. The works are inspired by the pandemic. These works in question may perhaps be described best as “cut-outs” or “reliefs”. Away from all the works just described, my ongoing work with the ambitious anti-knife crime ‘Re-Claim’, which can be described as an ambitious public installation.
Can you tell us about your artistic process?
My artistic process varies depending on the project am working on. But one thing that ties all my works/projects together in terms of the process is my constant habit of being on the go in recording every worthy idea that enters my head. Generally, you will see me taking photos of everything I find inspiring, anything that sparks an emotion or a powerful thought. This could be something I see whilst watching an animation movie or even something I find inspiring whilst watching a fashion catwalk runway show on YouTube. I am known to stop or pause family members whilst they are in the middle of eating or cooking, just so that I could take a picture of them in a particular position or do a quick sketch of the shape they may have made which I find inspiring.
Otherwise, my process with creating my paintings or “digital paintings” is to throw myself into the actual making and allow myself to discover what “we want to say” together. As far as I’m concerned. The process is a collaboration between myself – my experiences, my spirit, emotions and the material I’m using – the nature and characteristics of what I’m physically using to make the work.
Is narrative important within your work?
Most of the time narrative is important to what I make. But it is something I consciously abandon sometimes in order to reach for something else within me that may have a more raw spontaneous way of expressing itself. Well, that’s how I used to see it, until I realised even in the so-called “unplanned”, “spontaneous” or “expressive”, there is still a “narrative” of some sort going on. Why do I believe this?. Simply because whether conscious or unconscious, our attempt to create or make something – no matter what it is, no matter the approach is coming from a source, the source being our lived experiences. So in that sense even if not a literal story, there still is a narrative. It might just not be a traditional narrative.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I have always been attracted to artists who displayed a real sense of “freedom” and creativity throughout their lives or careers. Artists who were multi-dimensional, bold and not afraid to break the mould and re-invent stuff as we know – whatever that was. In that sense, my favourites would include musicians also. At this moment in time, I would list Rembrandt, Diego Velazquez, Picasso, Duchamp, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Michael Jackson, Nina Simone, David Bowie and Beethoven. All these figures in one way or another contributed major innovations into their respective craft or industries.
What or who inspires your art?
I feel so open that I truly believe my art is inspired by everything and can be inspired by anything. Having said that, my observation of human life and experience is at the centre of my output. To answer the question even more specifically, I think the driving force behind my passion to create would be my awareness and hunger to did and dig into what I know is possible for me as an individual and for us all as humanity. My tag line ‘Creativity Without Limitations’ points to the idea of pushing one’s self to go further, always looking and seeking new ways of doing things. That concept and the energy, excitement and the understanding that I feel from it inspires unbelievably.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My physical studio is in South London. It’s actually inside a youth centre. It’s quite a large space with lots of windows which of course brings in great natural light. It’s situated within a residential area, so there’s often lots of noise and sounds coming from the outside into the studio – which can be a great thing!. I added the word ‘physical’ to studio because in my mind these days, my “studio” albeit virtual is always with me via my tablet. I often continue to work on pieces whilst travelling on public transport or whilst on the move. For example, I will take photos of my unfinished sometimes unresolved paintings with my tablet before I leave the studio, then using a stylus with my tablet and an app on there, I would “continue to colour in” and draw on the photographs of the pieces I was working on at the studio. Often resolving and “completing” the pieces – virtually. This means by the time I get to the studio the next time, I’m able to dive straight into the actual physical painting, knowing exactly what needs to be added to the painting in question. Of course through this “virtual studio”, I’m also able to create original digital pieces such as my ongoing Brain Wave (BW) works.
Do you have any studio rituals?
I have an old small bucket hidden in the corner of my studio. I often throw in change from my pocket for good luck. The change can be absolutely any coin. One penny, two pence, 20p or even a pound. It’s something I have done on and off for years. I also have a habit of playing motivational speeches or videos in the background whilst I work. I find it affirms and resurrects my own beliefs in my abilities. I also like to have playing from my desktop computer biographies of people I admire or have become curious about. For me, it’s about constantly learning and expanding my mind. So any excuse to listen to anything that I feel feeds my hunger to know more is the way forward.
What are you working on now?
Living through the first phase of the pandemic, aka lockdown, I started to get inspired to create a whole new series of works using familiar “symbols” and “materials” of the lockdown, as I call it. I was attracted to the dramatic change of circumstances that altered how most people appeared or “disappeared” – we could not recognise some people we know quite well, as they donned Face cover shields and so forth. With these new works, I am using materials, a concept, techniques and an approach that is entirely new to my oeuvre. So I’m very excited to soon introduce these exciting new works.
At the same time, I continue to work on very expressive large scale paintings at the studio exploring ideas on spirituality, self-identity and culture, with elements of popular culture.
Where can we buy your work?
At the moment potential collectors contact me directly, as several galleries that had planned to show my works have been closed. Having said that, Leontia gallery is a good place to enquire about my works.
