NEW WAYS

A Different View

This digital portfolio unites the work of Ama Twum, Amy Avan Tetteh, and Nancy Afua Agyemang, who unveil different layers of creative expressions. They continuously reflect on their approaches to art, in a sober yet poignant manner. Together they weave a conversation that covers the many layers of life, psychological, historical and socio-political themes. Ama Twum’s vision is influenced by her own journey of struggle and recovery. Inspired by the so-called Blue Period of Pablo Picasso, she uses pictures and collage to process her PTSD incidents and the shadow that used to haunt her. Her sombre colours and metaphoric representations reflect the depressing atmosphere found in Picasso’s works, yet, there is a strong feeling of overcoming the present. To Twum, art is a way of acquiring beauty from injuries, of uncovering the hidden narratives that are often left out, and of finding the light even in darkness. Amy Avane Tetteh’s “Harmony in Chaos” series presents a vivid picture of the conflict between order and disorder existing in a fast-moving world. Her art is a kinetic montage of abstract forms, surreal elements, and electric colours that search how the two opposing forces meet in our lives. In her works like “The Symphony of Solitude,” she interweaves stillness with chaotic forms, thereby embodying the pull between calmness and turbulence. By employing both digital and traditional artistic techniques, Tetteh enables viewers to experience how harmony can arise from the unpredictable, making the chaotic into something meaningful. Nancy Afua Agyemang’s photography grounds this exhibition in the cultural and historical identity of African women. Her project on natural hair is both a documentation and celebration of African heritage, exploring how hair has been a symbol of resistance, pride, and self-expression over time. Her portraits don’t just capture faces; they tell stories of optimism and cultural pride, connecting the past struggles of the Black Power movement with today’s continued fight for self-acceptance. Through her lens, Agyemang explores the ongoing journey of reclaiming identity in the face of imposed beauty standards, highlighting the power of natural hair as a statement of defiance and freedom. In “New ways, A Different View” these artists provide a glimpse of humanity which, on one hand is personal and, on the other, is universal. Through paintings, photographs, and mixed media, they discuss the themes of healing, identity, and the beauty of our shared struggles and triumphs, which come out of the harrowing experiences of life. This exhibition directs the audience to become part of a fabric of stories that are disordered yet integral, weak yet strong, and finally, very human.

Harmony in Chaos

By Amy Avan Tetteh

The series “Harmony in Chaos” delves into the delicate interaction between chaos and harmony. In our interconnected and rapidly changing world, finding balance and coherence amidst the turbulence is a perpetual challenge. This body of work explores these energies and how they
intersect in our lives. In creating this series, I experimented with vibrant hues, surreal elements, and abstract forms to create these dynamic compositions. Each piece encapsulates a unique exchange between harmony and chaos from the stillness of the figures to the fluidity of the abstract forms and brush strokes. For example, in “The Symphony Of Solitude”, the theme of “Harmony in Chaos” permeates the composition, manifesting in the contrast between the figure’s contemplative repose and the background of swirling colours and forms. I work with both digital and traditional mediums and each of them offered its expressive potential.

Amy Avan Tetteh

Amy Tetteh is a Ghanaian-Nigerian artist based in Ghana. She works across both digital and traditional mediums, and her creations serve as a vehicle to convey and express ideas from her inner world and perspective. She has partaken in several group exhibitions including two exhibitions dubbed “This no be Art” (curated by Asime in 2021 and 2022), “Digital Nomads” (curated by Untamed Empire in 2023), “Africomics” (curated by the Goethe Institute for the 2023 edition of the Afrika Films Festival in Koln, Germany), and “Invest in women; Accelerate Progress” (curated by WAI Africa in 2024).
She was also the recipient of the award for the World Art Day Painting and Textile Challenge, organized by the Women’s Arts Institute Africa in 2023.
Amy draws her inspiration from the beauty and complexities of nature and the human experience. Through her creative exploration, she aims to create art that resonates

Cerberus

Connectivity in today’s age has reached unprecedented heights and so has a paradoxical sense of isolation. Through virtual windows and screens, we absorb the worries, anxieties, and judgements of others, weaving them into the fabric of our consciousness and blurring the lines between our individual experiences. Just as Cerberus guards the gates of the underworld, our minds must stand sentinel over our consciousness, discerning what elements of external influence should be allowed entry. Remember your agency, for it is in the quiet spaces between the tweets and posts that true connection and contentment may be found.

Through “Harmony in Chaos”, I aim to explore the experience of navigating the whirlwind of information, opinions and influences that define our modern existence. Amidst the constant state of change and flux, my work invites viewers to reflect on their identities and the
delicate balance required to maintain awareness and harmony within.

Inside Out

By Ama Twum

A series of art works which brings out my inner feelings and drags out the emotions I go through everyday, the side people don’t get to see.
I seek to share my silent feelings in the hopes that someone will know they are not alone and that it is possible to liberate themselves from the psychological prison they find themselves in everyday.

Ama Twum

M’akoma Da M’ens3m

Sometimes I don’t want to feel the emotions of being a living thing,sometimes it is so painful that it tears you up mentally. I keep my heart in my hands to stay numb for a moment,just a moment because longer means death… Had I been able to cheat nature, I would keep it this way.
I chose the scientific heart instead of the love shaped heart because the colors in my work are a representation
of the various emotions I felt when I died(suicide attempt).

Feelings

Picasso's use of dismal blues(Blue Period)to evoke complex emotions inspired me to explore similar theme in my own abstract work(Feelings). Just like Picasso drew from his personal experiences, such as the suicide of his friend Casagemas, I draw from my own struggles – from my suicide attempt to living with PTSD and “Feelings” is a representation of the various feelings I experienced during the time of hardship…”when I attempted suicide, I felt severe pain(red),then the fear of wrong decisions(black),after that,feeling anxious about the fact that I was actually dying(grey)…I turned numb from the continuous pain and agony(muted blue and grey) but when I had accepted my fate,a little light of hope emerged (white).

African Women and their natural hair; a look at their influences

By Nancy Afua Agyemang

The Natural Hair Movement has grown over time. On an average day, you will find people wearing out their Natural hair. With our history, from slavery to post-colonial times, the urge to be accustomed to the life of the colonial masters still exist. This project looks at the Era of influence on Natural Hair. Why most people would like to keep it and the how’s. These women were not only photographed but included was their own thoughts about their hair. The long run of the project is to explore some conditioning that exist, how others have changed their status quo and the power of hair in the line of civic rights.

Nancy Afua Agyemang

Nancy Afua Agyeman is a Ghanaian based photographer. Her photography dives into various forms but headlines a story which is depicted in imagery. Over the past six years her goal has been to change narrative and give a different perspective to everyday lives of African people. Labeling photography as a tool, she has dedicated her skill in photographing the African story through Portraits, Documentary etc. Her long term goal is to preserve an era of time giving reference for generations to a glimpse of the past. Her creativity is woven into her storytelling imagery, highlighting emotions and an intricate piece of her subject. The natural hair notably different grows in a bulb shape contrary to the straight. Typically genetics ace a role, it grows differently from the hair roots giving it the distinctive curl pattern. The Natural hair as it is accepted became a movement during the 1960s. Through time of black activism, struggle for equality and representation, the term natural hair has been adopted and defined as revolutionary through time. From prehistoric age, slavery and emergence of civilization colonialism and post colonialism- a trend in the hair industry evolves at each era. The Americas had a period of black activism which had the “afro hair “as a political statement for their civic rights. The iconic power fist which can be mostly noted on an afro pick became symbolic to black people in rally such as that of Activist Angela Davis in 1972 in Bulgaria. The “clenched fist “ spanning from Tommie smith’s and John Carlos win during an Olympic Games in Mexico in 1968 up to present of protest against racism and oppression especially in the Black Lives Movement. The fist has long been associated with solidarity and defiance as well as resistance. Nelson Mandela, South African’s First black president held up the fist with his wife after being released in 1990. The connection between power and gesture and defiance against oppression can be incorporated in the influence.

Their industry of women of color with this hair type created economic independence which Madam CJ walker (1867-1919) became a billionaire referred by the Guinness Book of Records as self-made billionaire. She created employment for over 40,000 African American men and women from her
business. As an advocate, she donated used her position to advocate for Anti-lynching and Advancement for Black Americans. Again, her story connects the natural hair to influences – the empowerment it characterizes and value it brings to the black and African community. In Maraji’s world YouTube video titled “Why we do not like our own hair” where she delves into the preference for wigs as a contrast to natural hair. The ideology of classism, ignorance etc. which she further discuss in her video. Again in her video, the concept of influence of choice comes to play whyAfrican women choose to wear out or maintain their natural hair. She refers to her basic schooling years where she had a timeframe to grow her hair and get it cut before schools starts. The African Education system has had it opinions on uniformity just as that of the United States of America. In The UK, A
counteract by The Halo collective has been defensive in ensuring that future occurrence of natural hair discrimination is abolished. Guided by the “The Halo Code”, the collective enables employees work by protecting them from discrimination.

In this project, a sample of women who have been natural in a span 6months to 15 years were photographed. Some of these women have had other hair experience prior to this, which a comparison was made to their current choice. Listening to each of them, there’s a common theme such as freedom, difficult, tough etc. They weren’t new words to them, but challenges they have accustomed to. In their process of staying natural, they adapted and found more convenient ways of embracing their natural hair. The style of twist, threads, silk press both traditional and self-innovative techniques are used to maintain their natural hair. Their influence dives down to their environment, the aesthetic beauty of it, relativity and the curiosity of experiencing new things are few of the influences of these women have found to keep their hair. As the love to embrace ourselves as Black people or African people continues to grow. These images should serve as reminder of who we are. The tangibles and intangibles which collectively makes us and shape our identity and tradition. These images should harness ways to better appreciate while keep the tradition. The image also includes a fine art imagery defining doubt but a spark of admiration of identity