今晚即將進行 Dior Men 的2021夏季時裝展直播，創意總監 Kim Jones 揭示今季將與年輕非洲藝術家 Amoako Boafo 合作。Kim Jones 分享去年底與 Amoako Boafo 會面進行交流後，決定要跟他來一次合作，究竟擅長以手繪創作黑人肖像畫的 Amoako，憑甚麼獲得 Kim Jones 的青睞？難到又是另一位擅長製造潮流的人物嗎？
At only 36 years old, Amoako Boafo, from the West African country of Ghana, is considered by the art world to be a new generation artist with a vision that spans the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. He excels in drawing portraits of friends and acquaintances, but it wasn’t until three years ago when he switched to painting with his hands that he caught the attention of renowned artist Kehinde Wiley, who introduced him to the art world and helped him gain fame. Some view his artwork as a recreated language that allows Amoako Boafo to express his views on the Black community and personal experiences.
When Amoako Boafo was not yet truly famous, he created with a brush, then later used a hands-on approach, using his fingers to apply oil, acrylic paint, or crayons on canvas or paper to create figures. This more direct way of painting can also outline very detailed works of art. In terms of composition, Amoako Boafo uses a monotonous and unpretentious color scheme, but all portraits appear more three-dimensional in this setting, with poses revealing everything. Especially when the portrait and the observer’s line of sight are aligned, the emotion becomes even more intense.
Described as a new generation artist with a vision spanning the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, what is the power of Amoako Boafo’s work? U.S. Trust National Art Services Director Evan Beard once wrote that the 19th century focused on aesthetic ability, the 20th century valued the complexity of concepts, and now in the 21st century, works should engage with the concept of identity. As a new generation artist, Amoako Boafo expresses these three aspects through his work. What is the concept of identity to Amoako Boafo? He emphasizes identity recognition, describing his main philosophy as presenting, documenting, showcasing, and approaching new ways of being black. It is important to note that painting was a way for Amoako to avoid trouble and mischief when he was young, and compared to traditional creation, his paintings are more realistic. In simple terms, he presents his observations and experiences through his artwork, even your own experiences.
The flat dimension activates the posture of the portrait, permeating with infinite power, no wonder Amoako Boafo is recognized as the most promising African artist today. However, it is not only impressive to be favored by Dior Men’s creative director Kim Jones, but even more impressive is that he is the first portrait artist named by master art collector Lu Bell for collection, showing the preciousness of his talent and painting concepts. In fact, Amoako Boafo only successfully auctioned his first work in February this year; the painting named “The Lemon Bathing Suit” was sold for ten times the official valuation at Phillips’ London 20th Century Contemporary Art Auction in February, causing a sensation in the contemporary art world and reminding everyone once again that Amoako Boafo is only 36 years old.
Although Dior Men’s fashion show is still about 2 hours away, Dior has already released a video revealing details of their collaboration with Amoako Boafo. The craftsmen at the Atelier explained how Kim Jones incorporated Amoako’s paintings to create a Trompe L’oeil visual illusion in the clothing design. The video also shows this technique applied to a jacket, showcasing the intricate process. What sparks will this collaboration bring, and how will Amoako enrich Dior Men’s collection? Don’t miss tonight’s live broadcast.
