ART NOLDOR RESIDENCY OFFERS BOOST FOR
ARTIST’S MIND AND BODY OF WORK
Non-profit organisation Noldor is inviting applications for its prestigious solo artist residency. The project, the first of its kind in Ghana, was launched last year to support the work of an emerging African artist. FLYafrica speaks to last year’s recipient, Ghanaian artist Emmanuel Taku, about the creative launchpad the residency provides while Noldor founder Joseph Awuah-Darko reveals prestigious new additions to the team and plans for expansion.
E
mmanuel Taku graduated from
apart with its holistic approach to
on the screen. And naturally as a
Accra’s prestigious Ghanatta
nurturing the chosen artist’s creativ-
seasoned collector myself, I wanted to
College of Arts and Design –
ity. Three weeks of access to the
know more. When I approached Taku
where alumni include the internation-
materials and studio space of the vast
and we had a deep conversation, I
ally renowned Amoaka Boafo and
Noldor warehouse is followed by a
was really stunned by his commitment
Kwesi Botchway – but in the decade
week-long wellness retreat led by a
to his practice and knowledge of his
that followed, the striking figurative
clinical psychologist.
decade-long journey as a relatively
works Taku produced, using a variety
Noldor founder and director
of materials, from acrylic to textiles
Joseph Awuah-Darko launched the
and newspapers, made few waves
residency to nurture emerging African
outside the capital. To make a living,
artistic talent and says Taku’s work
he returned to teaching visual arts to
immediately stood out when it came
college students.
to choosing a winner from among the
However, in the autumn of last
hundreds of applications. Here was
obscure practitioner. Finally, I was also adamant with my team that the first artist-in-residence come from Ghana.” MIXED MEDIA Emmanuel Taku uses magazine cuttings and screen printing in his works
For Taku, the residency gave him the platform he needed to take his work to another level. “It has truly been an eye-opening experience,” he says. “As
year, he experienced what he calls “a
an under-the-radar, homegrown artist
someone who has been practicing in
turning point” when he was selected
pursuing his own distinct vision.
obscurity for 10 years, it feels good
to be the first artist-in-residence at
He says: “I felt a personal
to have alchemised my practice in
the Noldor’s art studio in Accra’s
connection the first time I saw his
ambitious large format. Before Joseph
beachside Labadi district.
anthropomorphic figures on my
‘discovered’ my work, I was using social
Instagram feed. There was something
media as a democratic conduit to
such a residency in Ghana and the
special about his mixed medium
sell my work, but had little traction or
four-week programme also sets itself
approach that just jumped at me
meaningful exposure to be a part of
The non-profit is the first to offer
FLYafrica
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