Daniel Nartey
Daniel Tetteh Nartey, a Ghanaian painter from the renowned Ghannata College of Art & Design, shares his journey with fellow celebrated artists such as Amoako Boafo and Otis Qwaku. Nartey views art as a pathway to self-actualisation, describing his work as ever-evolving alongside life experiences and interpretations. He uses the canvas as a reflective surface to visualise one's mental state in moments of transcendence.
His paintings draw inspiration from both deliberate and accidental actions in everyday life, capturing the awkward and satirical aspects of human behaviour
that often defy definition. This is particularly evident in his portrayal of figures, where visible expressions and emotions are absent. By employing a line
technique on faces, Nartey captures the essence of movement and evolution, inviting viewers to define each piece for themselves.
Nartey explores the complexity of our thoughts and emotions. Our mind, body and intellect are volatile, and life is like a pendulum that constantly swings between the two main states of being; love and hate. One could say the entwined lines of Nartey’s faces are the representation of the back-and-forth of these emotional states we find ourselves in.
Nartey’s work depicts the evolution of emotion, where our generation and future generations need to evolve if we are to survive. Our children and grandchildren will be very like us, but hopefully with more of our strengths and fewer of our weaknesses as they master the silences of uncomfortable truths.
Read More
