Kwabena virtually works in all painting and drawing media. He is also seriously into fashion and what he calls pyro-painting (pyrography or scorching on plywood) but his favorite medium is acrylic paints.

As far as theme and subject matter is concerned his works cover basically generic themes and subject matter that come both in abstract and objective but sometimes very expressionistic forms. Title: ‘A nite of fashion’ Size: 30” x 40 Medium: acrylic and paper on canvas Kwabena believes color is the most powerful tool as far as painting is concerned therefore every space of color in his work has an individual uniqueness. Kwabena believes that simplicity provides a fine line between plainness and eloquence.

Carefully worked and seductively painted contrasting colors of his subject are full of delightful touches that repay viewing. His style is not a reckless abstract expression, but a more controlled use of color and form in abstract expression. He says because of his relationship with theater and fashion he ends up elevating in a theatrical manner common genre scenes and activities around him into something else.

Kwabena has a philosophy that he always stands by and that is, the belief that one of the essential considerations is that art must be a powerful tool to describe, criticize and re-construct society. He also says the appreciation of art means a contribution of understanding and enjoyment of a piece of artwork and so it is therefore possible to heighten our appreciation of art, to learn to see, to take an active interest in the visual world.

And he says when we do so we are only following a basic aesthetic impulse – an urge to respond to that which we find beautiful. Whether for good or for ill, Kwabena believes his works evoke a response that does not imply that art should or should not be beautiful in a more conventional sense. He claims many artists aim at creating this kind of beauty, if that is their goal then we may measure their success according to how well they achieve it. Title: ‘Not for sale’ Size: 20” x 28” Medium: acrylic and fabric on paper WHY ‘metamorFORCES’ I see this period as a turning point in my life as an artist.

The period in my life that I have experienced a great change in every thing I do as an artist, from the way I build concepts through the way I choose colours and the way I interpret my works to how people appreciate my works. This change was facilitated by some forces (not evil) that I can’t really describe but must admit has affected me for the better. Upon critical considerations I realise that these forces are the very elements from which this transformation emanated hence the title ‘metamorFORCES’. Title: ‘The throne’ Size: 30” x 38” Medium: acrylic on canvas TECHNIQUE, STYLE AND CONCEPTS According to scientists man has just used below 15% of the brains capacity, and yet there is a whole lot in the world, talk about scientific, technological and artistic developments and discoveries.

This means if the over 85% is to be exhausted the world will become an unimaginable place. A few decades back there was nothing like a compact disc but some one upon long years of research came out with the compact disc and an improvement has been made just a few years ago and so now there is mini-disc. There is something that characterizes such inventions and discoveries- the urge to go into the matrix.

New technologies have come about as a result of someone’s curiosity to go into the future and come out with ideas, which will make tomorrow a better day than today. Title: ‘The matrix’ Size: 30” x 40” Medium: acrylic on canvas My works are more often than not very abstract and it is that urge to go into the matrix that serves as impetus for that.

I am really not supposed to say so much about what these works mean to the observer but rather I would like the observer to look, interpret and enjoy these works his or her own way. I would like these works to be appreciated just like a jazz piece (with no lyrics) here the analogy seems so justified because in art the spectrum is seven coloured so as in music there are seven major notes and a very good composition of these colours or music notes will result in a very good painting or jazz piece. Just as we can enjoy a jazz piece even though its just an instrumental composition I would like my audience and patrons to appreciate and enjoy my works without ‘understanding’ it.

I believe art must be enjoyed and not necessarily understood before we can say it is art. I guess it will be very easy for you to just identify say a painted portrait of say the president of Ghana but after that what else? I believe art gets more exciting when you see a new kind of beauty and feel a new kind of enjoyment and fulfilment each time you look at the work and still have some questions about some elements in the work.

This is what my works present. The satisfaction and enjoyment is mostly found in this seemingly haphazard attempt at abstraction. Title: untitled Size: 15” x 25” Medium: acrylic and mixed media on polythene bag Because you always look at it and would still want to understand it and enjoy it, and believe you me, each time you look at it you will find a new enjoyment because the way you feel about it will be affected by the moods you find yourself in.

This in my opinion is what a good art should do. Trying to interpret and enjoy my works, I guess will not even take 0.000001% of your brains capacity so that you will still have more than the 85% of your brains capacity that is yet to be put to use.

Use just that small fraction to interpret, enjoy and analyze these beautifully crafted paintings on your own and the way you want it. Perhaps there is no other way to enjoy them. Title: ‘gossips’ Size: 35” x 50” Medium: acrylic and fabric on canvas “You have grown so much in the way you work comparing these to what I saw before I left, and this is not a matter of whether I like them or not but your works are just too good” – Prof.

Dr. R.T.

Ackam Title: ‘Diversity’ Size: 30” x 40” Medium: acrylic and fabric on canvas CONTACTS E-mail – owusuacquah@yahoo.co.uk Website- owusuacquah@2ya.com Tel # +23324652165 Postal address- Box C7 8800, TEMA Ghana-West Africa Title: ‘My palette’ Size: 20” x 30” Medium: acrylic on canvas LINKS WEBSITE REPRESENTATION -Novica.com -Ebay.com -Member Professional Painters’ Organization, Student Chapter-Ghana GALLERY REPRESENTATION -Tribal Eye – La palm royal hotel, -Accra -African market – Accra -The Loom Ltd.-Accra -College of Art’s Gallery – KNUST, Kumasi -Center for National Culture – Cape Coast -Berg art Gallery – Accra .