“When I saw the clothes I knew I had to bring them to life,” says Ofoe Amegavie, the Ghanaian photographer known for allowing his emotions to speak through his work. The 28-year old’s latest creative endeavour is fuelled by a mixture of heartbreak, disappointment, and sadness. It is expected to form part of a yet untitled exhibition aimed at providing viewers with an inside look into the “depressed emotional artist.”
“I use how I feel to fuel my creativity; I managed to find a way to find inspiration out of my situations. It may not be the healthiest thing to do, but that is what I have to go with right now,” says Amegavie.
His latest work features Ghanaian model Giana Akala dressed by a young designer called Collins Obeng-Marnu, owner of House of Paon. The shoot itself took 30 minutes, says Amegavie, as each contributor came together with a singular purpose – to produce a beautiful body of work.
Amegavie hopes the images will form part of his next exhibition.
“I hope I can create a space where people can come in and relate with my images on any level. I like to create a connection with people on topics that are not normally talked about,” he adds.
The Accra-based creative’s journey began as an escape from mundane Univeristy life. After using a number of forms of creativity as an outlet, Amegavie found a release in photography.
“It was a means for me to escape my dislike for the course I was studying, and the most depressing four years of my life,” he says.
Ghanaian photographer Bob Pixel’s use of light and Tom Hoops’ work further informed Amegavie’s creative decisions, cementing his love for black and white photography.
“I find black and white photos straightforward with no distractions,” he adds.
Amagavie has been described as one to watch in Ghana’s growing art scene. The photographer says he hopes to be seen as an influencer, encouraging young artists to go a step further with their creativity.
“I think it’s a sign of strength and courage in the youth and should be encouraged,” he says. “It’s great to see a lot of young people like myself getting into the art world, but the work we put out must speak volumes.”
