Emmanuel (KStony) Asamoah – Artist Statement

I intend to lift the legacy of people like my grandmother, who uses clay to form pots to bring water to our homes for daily use in a village called Bekwai . Where I come from, men are known for hunting and many of the women make pots with clay for a living . Whenever we visited our grandparents on vacation since growing up, I stayed home with my grandmother while she made pots and ceramics grinding bowls. Due to this experience,I had the opportunity to hold clay and it has been a part of my life since I was a child. Being so familiar with the material and the people who use it as a daily resource and necessity, my passion was sparked to use ceramics to mold a new life for myself.

My work encapsulates the ideas of captivity and daily attachment to a system based on one’s socioeconomic and cultural status. I make work about my lived experiences to enhance my understanding of what it means to be in a system that is driven by the labors of its people. Art is a cultural and emotional entity that I use to convey how I see the world.

I make installations combining mixed media, ceramics, and found objects. Realizing that emotions lead me to more profound critical thought, I use the history of found objects, collaborate with other artists to expand perspectives, and form works with my hands to engage in therapeutic and community-based practice.

I use the power of art to transform a space by utilizing the shared legacy of objects and human emotions. When I feel inspired, my work becomes more experimental and introspective. I intend to elevate themes of humanity and equal rights through my acts of service and collaboration, both inside and outside of the studio. I want to show the world that art can help create a happier, healthier life by contributing my creative solutions. I am sharing my imagination, creativity, and innovative ways of making and thinking to give attention to underrepresented voices and make an impact on my community in Kumasi, Ghana.

Being a contemporary ceramist from Ghana has allowed me the opportunity to express how my daily life influences each piece. Kumasi is a competitive and challenging visual arts center. My daily experiences involve hard work and struggle to make a living, while maintaining art practice to ensure I will cultivate the possibility of changing my life through opportunities such as pursuing my MFA.

My culture influences my outlook on life. While I am an artist, I am also a person who feels deeply and wants to learn and understand the world in all it’s variety. Meeting other artists, having a job, and being among my family and friends influence the work I make. Even the works others never see inspire the next topic, which makes me excited to keep progressing. It is about the continued effects of staying within a system that molds you. When I speak of socioeconomic and cultural status, I feel that my environment, mentality, and opportunities have shaped me. It is essential for me to share my heritage because I am here to expand the work I make based on the intentions and identity of myself and others in Ghana. Home is where the mind and body work, rest, and evolve. I also realize the importance of projecting outward, and look forward to adding my voice to the international ceramics conversation.