XXPLODE MAG ISSUE. 02 by XXPLODE MAGAZINE

XXPLODE MAG ISSUE. 02

B Y N AT I O N O F S E V E N & G H A N A A RT I S T S C L U B

MADE BY CREATIVES FOR CREATIVES

ISSUU.COM/XXPLODEMAG

JAN. 2019

X X P L O D E M AG D E S I G N E D BY J AC O B @J O N E SA N D M A RY O N I G

by NationOfSeven X GhanaArtistsClub showcases creative talents, models and artists across the globe who are putting out amazing work & using their craft to inďŹ&#x201A;uence the world & impart it in a positive light.

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the goal of the mag is to help promote creators from different walks of life and serve as another outlet where the world sees more of their work.

B Y N AT I O N O F S E V E N X G H A N A A R T I S T S C L U B

contents - cover story - feature page - features on models, artists, musicians, etc. - xxplodemagâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team, word to creators. - what to expext in issue .03 - ending pages

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aries TYLER

coverstory

For this issue of XXPLODE MAG, the team features a photo of ARIES TYLER as cover of the mag. Tyler is an emerging musician & artist based in the United States who has a passion for creative arts, fashion & music and expresses himself in line of that through his works and outlook. As part of our brand policies, our mag covers will feature more models of color from diverse walks of life who are inďŹ&#x201A;uencing the creative industry in a positive light.

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The mag cover where he is the subject is a culmination of amazing work churned out by not just by himself but the stylist, photograher, etc. The photo was shot by @austentaylor (instagram) as part of a shoot in collaboration with @totemagency (instagram).

xxplodemagazine .02 issuu.com/xxplodemag photo shot by @_evans_photography // IG muse: @allhail_shad

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xxplodemagazine .02 issuu.com/xxplodemag madeforcreativesbycreatives art.fashion.models.artists.etc

@tylerfaye on IG

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I S S U E . 0 2

This issue features ARIES TYLER TYLER FAYE

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ANU ORO KAY-ARA NARCOGRAPHY HANNAH TIALI BEEZSHOTME KWESI BOTWE KINGSTON CALIE KWAME YESU OGE UYAI GODOFPOETRY 4

xxplodemag .02 photography by @beezshotme / IG shirt by @ofďŹ cialkrone / IG

LETS GET IN

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INTRODUCING KWAME YESU . MUSICIAN/ARTIST

My name is Kwame Yesu. A musician and creative person. I model sometimes. Music has always been a passion from when I was a little kid till now. And I am still keeping at it. One of my dreams is to perform at ‘Coachella’ and collaborate with fellow amazing artistes across the globe. I believe that to succeed at something you’ve gots to give it your all and be abreast with the times and also know that hardwork and discipline pays. @kwame_yesu - Instagram 8

@kwame_yesu

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@HANNAHTIALI MODEL.

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shotby @narcography // IG model // @hannahtiali // IG xxplodemag .02

shotby@narcography // IG model // @hannahtiali // IG xxplodemag .02

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@Tylerfaye // IG // model

artist manager. creative director. visual producer

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get to know TylerFaye. “the dilemma of the dimensions I choose

to be defined by at this moment was actually the inspiration for my agency Unidentifiable Creative. As an artist, I felt I was completely unidentifiable, there were no labels that accurately described the multidimensional quality

to me. I am someone that contains

extreme dualities, like we all do. On one hand, I am extremely logically rigid, and on the other I am very abstract and illusive. Have you ever had any other career in mind? Yes! I wanted to be a lawyer. But then I realized I didn’t

want to argue for a living, I wanted to influence people through persuasion or genuine inspiration. I felt liberated when I chose creativity as my path. What new content can we expect from you? people can definitely expect to see more from Unidentifiable Creative. We are an agency of multifaceted artists that want to produce unique and authentic content. I will be doing more creative directing, videography, and video editing. I want to make sure all of our artists have professional and eye catching content. Who / what are your influences? My family are my major influences in life, they keep me motivated through everything. I’m also inspired by many great thinkers, Amit Goswami, Angela Davis and Simone de Beauvoir. I study rhetoric communication and philosophy in school so I'm really inspired by what I’m learning. I love challenging myself to see things through the process of others, whether that be through reading their opinions or communicating with them. I believe that creativity being exchanged globally is such a beautiful thing. I can’t wait to get the opportunity to collaborate with creatives across the world.

Do you have a message for art lovers or anyone with ambitions out there? I’d say create from your heart, not for money. Build long lasting relationships with people that actually make you feel fulﬁlled and not drained. The “industry” doesn’t exist, we create the industry. If we are good to one another, it will reﬂect in our art”.

model // @urie_blaq on IG photo by @accrastudioslive on IG

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INTRODUCING KWESI BOTCHWAY ARTIST + PAINTER + PHOTOGRAPHER

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PAINTING BY KWESI BOTCHWAY. @K.botwe1 on IG & facebook.

“My name is Kwesi Botchway, Founder of Worldfaze (www.facebook. com/worldfaze) art studio. I was born in Accra-Ghana (NIMA). After my secondary education, I improved upon my gifted talent in Art at Ghanatta College of Art and design, where I obtained a Diploma in painting in 2011 and also became a self taught photographer. My ideas and style of painting are inspired by the human face and skin textures. I also like to work on everything concerning social and humanitarian issues such as interaction between generations and human development. My goal is to depict interesting ﬁgurative portrait paintings of all generation. My point of focus is the Eye, Nose and Mouth, which I believe is where our soul resides and churns out emotion. I also believe these body parts are what grants us access to feel each other’s consciousness, and also creates very “intriguing dialogue” between the viewer and my paintings, so as to get them inspired in various ways. My paintings evoke positive emotion, strength, dignity, humor, discomfort & resolves issues. I have done and been involved in quite a number of exhibitions. Artist Alliance Gallery, Golden Tulip Hotel (Ghana, 2015), Chalewote Street Arts Fest. 2016, Hos Oona Galleri og Sundhed (Denmark) 2016, etc”.

Kwesi Botchway shows his works in an exhibition in JamesTown Accra, Ghana, where the Duchess of Cornwall & Prince Charles of Wales were in attendance.

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Hidden Treasure . Age of

No Return Painting on Canvas by Kwesi Botchway.

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ANU ORO anu-oro.com

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NEW YORK ARTIST

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ACKEE (2018) // BY ANU ORO.

New York born artist , author Anu Oro sees the world through unconventional eyes. She is a self-taught artist and has a vision that is been described as vibrant

and ethereal. Her work is a paradox, ranging from contradictory to complementary styles and colors that leave the viewer xated. Oro synthesizes visual collages intended to be interpreted by the viewer in an attempt to stimulate the senses and the soul. She is predominantly known for @anu_oro on Instagram + twitter utilizing texture, gold, daring colors, & www.anu-oro.com emotional tableaux. “I am interested in creating a body of work that extends beyond my lifespan. I savor the idea of sharing parts of me that have the ability to outlast the esh. Lately I have become more aware of how nite I am and see creating as the key to immortality. I believe my art to be my energy amplied. My work is comprised of everything I love. Light, color, sound, texture. I do not want to be placed in a box. I take elements of everything that makes me feel alive and put it in my pieces. My interests are vast. Fashion, music, photography, past, present, culture, spirituality, food, etc. I've learnt from practice, experimentation and watching the greats. Not just the work but how they work. Not just visual artists but geniuses and musicians. I admire people that have passion and almost insane work ethic. Those that are seemingly possessed by their art. I am an advocate for creative liberty. People using their work to create intentional lives. Lives they actually want to be present in because they are being authentic. Nothing surpasses your core passion. I paint because that’s freedom to me. No one can tell me what to do or how to do it. Its an arena where nothing matters but what place your mind want to take you to”.

KAY-ARA

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GET TO KNOW KAY-ARA

@kayunderscoreara Musician + Writer. Checkout his music on Soundcloud.com/ kay-ara

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“Ride or die with it // you people don’t know how live it gets //

When I see Dangote ein private jets // E only dey bring up all my regrets // cast my eyes off my watch and my desktop // later go see my girl next door // ein family dey see me like despot so how these things all go make I rest small? // mandingo two shots I just cot // go back home get dressed and head mall // to see how many Cds get head nods // my boys say ‘what be the use?’ // I respond back tell them say ‘don’t be a fool // if eno be music aa what we go do? // - Trafﬁc For The Bank // Kay-Ara

Introducing Oge Uyai. Model

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@for_oge//IG If I’m being honest, I won’t say I have much of a career yet. Not for lack of trying but for the fact that I literally just began pursuing it. I’ve always wanted to model since I was 14 but the idea of school was so ingrained in my head - not as if I even liked school that much - but I just thought it made more sense to be over and done with school before jumping into the fast paced fashion industry. Slick Woods was my inspiration for reconsidering a modeling career in my 20’s and deciding to shave off my hair. I saw the very ﬁrst Fenty Beauty ad and the gaptoothed beauty caught my attention immediately. So far, I've done a few gigs & collaborations here and there but nothing major. Looking back, I wish I had dumped school and picked up modeling. At this point, modeling is something I want to do for fun, unless of course I get paid gigs along the line. I love looking at photos of myself. it sounds vain but I think I’m allowed to be a little vain. For anyone who’s thinking about launching a modeling career, grow thick skin and don’t let anyone (I repeat, anyone) take advantage of you and your desperation to make it. The rejections will come, you’ll shed a tear or two but, you’ll learn to handle it over time.

GODOFPOETRY

@godofpoetry//IG

GET TO KNOW THEGODOFPOETRY.

Elikplim Akorli [GodofPoetry] discovered poetry in primary school, where like his mates he was made to memorize poems by John Pepper Clarke, Ko Awoonor among some other great poets who inspired various phases of poetry on the African Continent. He would write poems to keep himself @thegodofpoetry//IG busy and used it as an art of contemplation for the subtlety which the art of poetry commands. He reveled in them greatly and has written quite a number of poems, amongst them ‘A Heart’s Quest’ which was self published and launched in 2013. He’s currently working on another book which is more of a candy but we’d prefer to leave that for the taste buds and sensibilities of art lovers and readers of poetry to comment on. In 2009, he discovered the magic of spoken word on the Ehalakasa platform and has since nurtured and thrilled audiences with his art on various platforms. He is passionate about the arts and participated in putting together the rst ChaleWote Street Art Festival, held at James Town, Accra and subsequent ones. He is a growing phenomenon and culturing his art sensibilities, including forms and mediums to yet be the best of himself. Elikplim holds a BA(Hons) in African Studies from the University of Cape Coast and an MBA in Human Resource from GIMPA, Accra - Ghana. Visit afroelikplim.wordpress.com to view his works.

KINGSTON CALIE. @blackkingcalie on instagram

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KING CALIE For King Calie, several events have contributed to his love for music. He recalls the most vivid one being able to go on church trips with his older brothers and watching them perform. Their graceful movements fascinated him to the point where he knew he wanted to be able to captivate an audience the way they did. However, his method of captivation was not sign language, but music. He would get his practice when his younger brother wanted to perform at birthday parties and he would join him for moral support, and from his very first time entertaining he felt at home on a stage. When trying to find his place in this dynamic industry, King Calie struggled with his musical identity. He went through phases of being called “Mob 13” and “Vendetta” ironically. But this didn’t feel right to him. After doing extensive research he came across the words “Cali” and “Shalom”, meaning warrior and peace respectively in Swahili. He felt instant connection and purpose when he saw those words. He knew he wanted his music to represent such a strong and positive meaning. So, for a time, he went by the name Shalom Cali, until his late friend, Jason Aliman, started calling him “King Calie” and advising that he should introduce himself as such. While not being able to sing maybe considered a weakness, for King Calie, he figured out early how to make his songs sound appealing despite this. He believes what sets him apart from other musicians was his tenacity and his “show-man” attitude. “I am an entertainer and wooing a crowd comes easy to me”, King Calie explained proudly. Along with music, King Calie also finds himself drawn to Visual Arts. He stated that he has used every day images from his cell phone and manipulated them in a way to make them appear as fine art. He finds that this not only expresses his other creative side, but it also provides a therapeutic effect. Calie believes whole-heartedly that for aspiring artistes, “if you don’t intend to deal with a fast pace environment, this industry is not for you, so stay focused in what you believe in and always keep improving”. Article by Candice Haughton

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XXPLODEMAGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TEAM; WORD TO CREATORS. sourced from artworkarchive.com by Anne Kullaf.

Here are pieces of advice Anne wants to pass on to emerging artists:

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1. Be authentic. Paint only that which interests you in the way you choose to paint it. Don’t change your approach to gain sales, popularity or acceptance. You will never do your best work if you do. 2. Compete only with yourself. Avoid competitions, contests and measuring yourself by how many shows you’ve gotten into or awards you’ve won. Seek validation internally, you will never please everyone. 3. You have to realize it's a lot of work. You can’t just sign up for a workshop or go to an art class once a week and expect gallery reprensentation and collectors to follow shortly after. Most successful artists have natural talent, a long history of education and a lot of practice under their belt. Your goal should be to be the best artist you are capable of being, not to become famous or to make a lot of money from your work. If that means earning your living from a day job, that’s perfectly okay. In fact, most artists do exactly that! The demand for art is not great enough to support all of the talented artists who need to earn a living.

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ART BY ANU ORO. ANU-ORO.COM @anu_oro[IG]

expect more content and new features in issue. 03 xxplodemag. issue. 02

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Photo shot by Paula @narcography [IG] Model @adelinathemermaid [IG] Styled by @__thebamb [IG]

Features including Cecile Andersen, Mojo Kojo, Bri Flasch, Seraptive, KoďŹ Ye, etc

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xxplodemag issue. 02 made by creatives for creatives. designed by @jonesandmary [IG]

Thanks for viewing! follow our pages @nationofseven @ghanaartistsclub for updates on the next issue! or email nationofseven@ yahoo.com

photographyby @beezshotme[IG]

designedby@jonesandmary

Thanks for viewing issue .02 of XXPLODEMAG!. Made by creatives for creatives. Put together by Ghana Artists Club X NationofSeven Team.

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XXPLODE MAG ISSUE. 02

Articles inside

XXPLODEMAG ISSUE. 02