'Why must Blackness always be about pain and suffering?' asks Amoako Boafo as he opens his first show in London

Amoako Boafo, a Ghanaian artist, has achieved significant recognition in the art world, transitioning from a rapid ascent in 2019 and 2020 to a sustained career. His work is currently featured in an internationally touring museum exhibition titled 'Soul of Black Folks' and he is represented by prominent galleries like Gagosian and Mariane Ibrahim. Boafo's latest exhibition, 'I Do Not Come to You by Chance,' opened in London, marking his inaugural show in the city. This exhibition not only unveils new paintings but also pays homage to Accra, Ghana, his hometown, and the artistic community instrumental in his success. The exhibition's title is inspired by Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani's novel of the same name. In this new body of work, Boafo delves into his family history, creative journey, and the supportive community around him. The show incorporates installation elements that integrate with the paintings, offering a more intimate look into Boafo's life and story than previous works. It celebrates his friends and fellow artists, including Aplerh-Doku Borlabi, Kwesi Botchway, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, and Eric Adjei Tawiah, along with his personal history. Boafo is renowned for his art, which champions Black joy. His distinctive technique combines traditional finger painting with transfer methods and a portraiture style reminiscent of Schiele. He primarily focuses on portraits of individuals he knows or admires, depicting them with confidence, often smiling or in moments of leisure. These works convey a powerful sense of affirmation for his subjects and carry a discernible political message, operating on multiple interpretive levels. Despite his international career, including training at the Ghanatta College of Art and Design in Accra and the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, Boafo remains deeply committed to his hometown. He shares a studio with fellow artists and has expanded his contributions to Accra's art scene through dot.ateliers, a residency and exhibition space. This facility, designed by architect Glenn DeRoche of DeRoche Projects, provides crucial resources and space for local artists in a city with limited public art services. Boafo explains that literature has significantly influenced his work. While he often references novels in his paintings or draws inspiration from them, 'I Do Not Come to You by Chance' is his first exhibition to directly use a book title. He recounts that moving to Vienna prompted him to reflect on his Black identity in a new way, and books exploring the Black experience provided a vital connection. Reading, a luxury he couldn't afford in his youth, later helped him articulate his artistic vision. The novel 'I Do Not Come to You by Chance' resonates with Boafo because it portrays the sacrifices a young Nigerian man makes for his family, challenging conventional notions of good, bad, intelligence, and success. Boafo sees parallels between the book's themes and his own journey as a Ghanaian artist who achieved success to support his family, while also emphasizing the importance of self-care. His London exhibition showcases the evolution of his techniques, backgrounds, textures, and the use of wood grain, featuring some of his largest paintings to date. A central component of the exhibition is the recreation of the courtyard where Boafo first learned to paint. He sees London as an ideal setting to reinterpret this space on a grand scale, leveraging available resources and support to realize this ambitious installation. He views bringing this significant personal space into the gallery, now housing his paintings, as a profoundly special endeavor. When asked about the importance of depicting Black joy, Boafo challenges the pervasive narrative of Blackness being solely associated with pain and suffering. He asserts that his painting is fundamentally about documenting and celebrating Black identity. His primary motivation is to portray people he admires, who inspire him, and who create opportunities. He aims for his figures to exude strength, freedom, and unapologetic self-expression. The recreated courtyard, though not always easy, was rich with life, lessons, laughter, and conflict, where joy emerged through sharing, learning, and recognition. Boafo emphasizes that by showcasing Black joy, he intends to highlight that Black stories encompass intimacy, celebration, relaxation, and play, extending beyond narratives of pain or survival. His collaboration with Glenn DeRoche on dot.ateliers stemmed from a desire to give back to his inspiring community. Recognizing the burgeoning talent in Ghana and across Africa, Boafo sought to create opportunities for artists, hoping to mitigate the perceived necessity for them to seek success in Europe. His continued partnership with DeRoche for the London show felt natural, as DeRoche understands Boafo's vision for blending community with artistic practice and for pushing the boundaries of exhibiting art beyond traditional white-wall presentations. Bringing autobiographical elements, including references to his upbringing, friends, and collaborators in Accra, is a deeply personal yet necessary process for Boafo. It allows him to demonstrate his growth as an artist and individual, while also positioning his culture and history as integral to his journey. He views this sharing as a vulnerable yet strong act, committed to sharing his success and ensuring that those who inspire him are part of this ongoing endeavor. Boafo believes Accra's community-centric approach, where people share space and resources, offers valuable lessons for cities like London. The courtyard installation serves as a reminder for Ghanaians in London of the richness of their heritage and the resourcefulness born from communal living. #AmoakoBoafo #ArtExhibition #BlackJoy #GhanaianArt #LondonArtScene #ContemporaryArt #CulturalIdentity #GagosianGallery #AccraArt #AdaobiTriciaNwaubani #AmoakoBoafo #ArtExhibition #BlackJoy #GhanaianArt #LondonArtScene #ContemporaryArt #CulturalIdentity #GagosianGallery #AccraArt #AdaobiTriciaNwaubani