Most people spend all of their lives discovering themselves – Zohra Opoku

Ghanaian-German multidisciplinary artist, Zohra Opoku, believes that life is an endless journey of self-discovery and she explores this ideology in her exhibition “Sassa”.

Zohra, who combines West African traditions, spirituality and the link of her family lineage in her work, says that Ghanaians are still coming to terms with art work. She added that it is still very difficult to motivate artists to practice their craft full-time, since support is low.

Many Ghanaians have questioned the importance and relevance of Art and Zohra Opoku says that this makes the work of she and her fellow artists difficult, sometimes.

“The market is very challenging in the sense that our general perception of Art is still very unclear; we are still learning to comprehend it. With this work that I do, even older Ghanaian artists are now learning about it. My colleagues and I are more like a young generation emerging into the Art industry and because of this you don't find so many connections to our work on the street or in a daily life. You have to get to where the artists are and our network is still very small, as compared to other places.”

Zohra Opoku whose Art collection 'Sassa' is on currently on display at the Gallery 1957, at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra, tells Citi Showbiz that she worked tirelessly with her team to create the concept. She described the art piece as a struggle within one's soul to discover a personal identity that is not based on cultural background or lineage.

From Zohra Opoku's “Sassa” at the Gallery 1957 in Accra

From Zohra Opoku's “Sassa” at the Gallery 1957 in Accra

From Zohra Opoku's “Sassa” at the Gallery 1957 in Accra

From Zohra Opoku's “Sassa” at the Gallery 1957 in Accra

On her work “Sassa”, she had this to say:
“[Most great things in life] take long and do not always immediately turn out the way that you want them to. When you know what you want to do, there is still a process to follow; so I had to research about the places that I wanted to shoot at. Sassa is to remind myself and others that there is a constant search for belonging and blending in, but also at the same time, we want to find a place of peace and happiness, which we can only find, when we find ourselves. I'm still discovering myself and I believe that most people spend all of their lives discovering themselves.”

Zohra Opoku is one of Ghana's upcoming visual artists who, with a keen and disciplined eye for textiles and designs, employs installation, sculpture and photography at the helm of her practice.

By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana