One of the fastest-growing industries within Ghana’s creative space is the art industry. From street painters to canvas artists to digital artists, the art space over the last few years has seen an increase in people showing their talents through the arts. Albeit not enjoying heavy publicity and visibility, artists have not let that overshadow their work. Rather, they have worked on building their community through art exhibitions from time to time. As part of our commitment at iMullar to uplifting and amplifying creatives in Ghana and beyond, we had a conversation with one of Ghana’s fastest-rising artists, Efuasei.
The Ghanaian artist, although still fresh in the space, has been actively putting herself and her art out there by maximizing her reach through her social media platforms. After a great run in 2023, Efua started the year by initiating a campaign where she has consistently put out art since January 1st, 2024.
In this conversation, Efua shares her journey as a creative, an artist, the community, and the motivation behind her new campaign.
Hello Efua, It is an honor to have this interview with you. First of all Happy New Year. How would describe your 2023?
Terrible. I could lie and say it was fine and hallelujah, but my God, it was hard. Really hard. I am glad it’s passed. Happy New Year in fact to you too!
Let us take it back a bit. Who is Efuasei?
I am a girl. I am Medusa. I’m an ethereal being, I’m also a visual artist, writer, model, and everything in between.
There are people who know you for your art and there are some who know you as a writer. Have you always known you were creative and at what point did you start trying your creativity?
Mmm. I could tell a not-so-lie and say I started my art journey as soon as I learned to hold a pencil. I grew up in a house full of kids and I used to do these drawing competitions with them. My writing started as a joke somewhere in primary school. I had an exercise book full of short stories I’d write to entertain my friends during break time.
How do you balance your writing and your art so as to ensure, one aspect does not relegate the other?
I am the wrong person to ask this. But if I were the right person, I’d say, try to merge the two, you could make art based on stories or written pieces. Better still, you could run a schedule where you do extended periods of art and then writing interchangeably. What matters is being intentional with both.
Let us delve a bit into your art. How long have you been an artist and What type of will you say Efuasei is? What makes Efuasei different?
I have been an artist all my life. I started learning how to paint digitally full-time, four months ago, and what a ride it’s been. What type of artist? mmm. I do not like to put myself in a box until I’ve explored all the mediums there are to explore, I’d say I am every artist. I like my art to tick off people with a faux sense of moral superiority. I make art to host space and celebrate women and marginalized communities. I use awfully bright unconventional colors to provoke a why? To which I always respond why not?
I am me. In every sense of these two simple letters.
Can you share with us one of your creative processes when creating an art piece?
One of my recent pieces, titled ‘Vagina Squeezings’ came to me because I was on my period, and I was in severe undeserved pain. I wondered to myself why vaginas couldn’t be detached, and the blood squeezed out like an orange, there, the idea was born. Usually, I source reference images close to what I have imagined and paint till I am satisfied with my vision.
You have been in the space for a while, and you have met other creatives. What is your assessment of the Ghanaian art space so far?
A dicey question. I think there are the top guys, the just-comers, and the ‘in-betweens’ like me, and there’s not very much of a link between any of these groups. There are not a lot of spaces where all the levels can mesh and you know, link, learn/teach, or whatever. You very much may have to figure everything out by yourself.
There have been conversations about collaborations among creatives in the country. What is your stance on this and are we going to see you collaborate with creatives who may not necessarily be artists themselves?
Collaborations are great, there’s nothing like two or more passionate individuals joining juices to create magic. So far I haven’t done any, but I look forward to it.
Which moments in time will describe as the turning points or high moments in your career so far?
My very first group exhibition with the organizers of “voices in my head’, my creatorship with adenturesfrom.com and my exhibition with the cat mama.
Your mini exhibition at Ria Boss’s event last year. How did that happen and how were you feeling seeing your art fill up that space?
Omg, I still cannot believe that happened. So, not debatable, I am Ria Boss’s biggest fan. Her music helped me through some very dark times so she always will hold a very special piece of my heart. I was inspired by the cover picture of the Black Girl’s Glow’s most recent album (go check it out). And I made an art piece reflecting that. I think that is when I got noticed by Ria. A month or so later I got a DM from her to join in a group exhibition as a part of her pre-birthday open mic concert.
It was really such a dream for me, I’ll always be grateful for her existence and her craft. She’s known for sharing her space with upcoming creatives and is really such a powerful force.
Since the year started you have been putting out art every day at 6pm. You’ve done that consistently from January 1 till date. What can you tell us about what you are doing?
Three things.
1. I started this with no prior planning whatsoever, I just got up one day and threw myself into a random idea.
2. It has been as draining as it has been rewarding because regardless of how easy it looks; it really is not. But I push myself every day and that makes me happy.
3. Ultimately, I am doing it for myself, and my art will get better for it. I cannot wait to see the full effect.
Is the reception of what you have started been going how you expected it to go?
It has been an undulating curve, there was a lot of attention in the first week. But generally, each art piece I put out is received differently and I have much more support than I thought I would get.
Everyone is looking at putting out amazing stuff with their craft this year. Aside from what you have already started, what else should we expect from Efuasei?
I just hope to awaken the writer in me and put out at least 5 written pieces before the year ends. For my art, I will let the winds take me where she deems fit.
In concluding this conversation, what are your last words to anyone reading this out there?
If you are lucky enough to recognize your passion, do it, thrive in it, and let it consume you.
Written By Nana Kojo Mula.
