[dropcap custom_class=”normal”] Wisdom “Wiz” Kudowor is a prominent Ghanaian contemporary visual artist. To some, he is known as a trans-cultural visionary. He studied fine art at the College of Art at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi and graduated with a first class honours degree in fine arts in 1981. [/dropcap]
Wiz describes himself as an artist who knew already as a child that he would pursue a life as a full-time artist and his parents never tried to convince him differently. Wiz uses ancient symbols and aesthetic elements derived from Ghana’s rich cultural heritage as an artistic tool to highlight space and structure colourful configurations on his canvasses. He works with foam roller and a palette knife to create strongly coloured and intense paintings that combine styles, themes and expressive patterns from different cultural backgrounds and this has made art experts describe Wiz Kudowor as a “transcultural visionary”.
Place of Birth: Takoradi, the fourth largest city in Ghana
Date of Birth: 1957
Wiz designed the relief mural at Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, a distinguished monument to some of the most important leaders which he installed in 1992.
During an exhibition of his works in Lagos, Nigeria, Wiz Kudowor stated:
My works are characterized by the dedicated exploration into the dynamic possibilities of the dot, expressing vibrant activity and pure energy with elements, both contemporary and traditional. The use of dots which was inspired by traditional bead work, some twelve years ago has evolved over the years into a different dimension of self-expression which goes to translate my ideas on an African essence concretely. The structure and rhythm of both representational and abstract African symbols – major features of my environment are reference points from which I visualize a whole world of imagery.
Wiz Kudowor artwork has been exhibited in solo and group shows for almost 30 years with exhibitions cutting across Africa, Europe, Asia and America. Wiz has won many prizes including the Osaka Triennale Bronze Prize and the Ghana Airways Silver Jubilee Art Contest. His work can be found in a number of international collections including the African-American National Museum, Texas, USA Ministry of Culture, Peoples Republic of China, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Accra Ghana. Wiz is a member of Artists Alliance Gallery.
He currently explores themes “around the cosmology and mythology of African spirituality” in his artworks and some of his works draws on the deeper meaning of African symbolism and are composes from them enigmatic messages with intriguing titles. He has also been producing multilayered sensual works.
Check out some of his amazing artwork!
Photo Credit: kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com
Sources:
www.modernghana.com/music/22881/3/wiz-kudowor-the-black-stars-of-gha
