gold: celebrating african life, ancestry and beauty

Article and Art by Asare Adjei

“GOLD” is a series that celebrates African life, ancestry and melanin beauty.

Unlike the vibranium featured in the new celebrated “Black Panther” movie, gold is a real-life precious resource that has the potential to empower many African countries. Yet it has been frequently stripped and stolen from by outside forces.

In this series of portraits entitled ‘GOLD’, I wanted to highlight this natural resource and celebrate it as a gift to the continent. Most importantly, the gold actually represents the amazing inner wealth and vibrant dynamism of all African people. People not often seen as precious nor celebrated. This precious metal resides symbolizes their soul and natural elegant royalty. An essence that can never be stripped away nor stolen. Each individual featured shines brightly in their own light and know instinctively that they are truly golden.

Asare Adjei is an interdisciplinary Artist, Architect, and Photographer whose works combine observations and commentary on world culture, human rights, cosmology and concerns around the contemporary representations of black identity. Born 1975, and raised in both Ghana (Africa) and England (Europe), Asare has developed an inimitable dual-cultural perspective which he infuses into his work.

Asare’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and publications throughout the United Kingdom. Past exhibitions have included group shows at Rebecca Hossack Gallery (Mayfair/UK), Level 39 (Canary Wharf/UK) and The Black and White Building (Shoreditch/UK), and photo publications in The Guardian Newspaper. He has been shortlisted for the Art Gemini Prize and Creativepool Annual.

Asare Adjei
Asare Adjei
Asare Adjei
Asare Adjei
Asare Adjei