Myselfisolating (2020)
Artist Statement
‘I went down, down and down during the Lockdown;
surrounded by loneliness, stress, weakness.
From my darkness bottomless,
switched-on survival instinct.
From my vulnerability emerged creativity.
Hope and confidence rose,
I will me again my beloved.
We will be gathered,
We will smile, miles better and over while.’
Myselfisolating uses everyday objects around me : a summer hat, sunglasses and my stressball. As I've been alone in lockdown, everything has a meaning and allows me to explore my emotions: the oven becomes a reflection of the outside environment, the summer hat becomes my friend and someone I say hello to.
Artist Bio
Koffi Nguessan is originally from the Ivory Coast and has been living in the UK since 2015. After working with Accumulate, a UK charity that provides creative workshops to young people affected by homelessness, Koffi’s work was exhibited in the Autograph’s prominent exhibition ‘Accumulate: Youth Culture’ at Autograph, in London, 2019. That year Koffi became one of the recipients of the Accumulate Scholarship Programme and is currently studying a foundation course at Ravensbourne University in order to achieve a degree in photography.
With a background in family farming, Koffi’s work explores nature and wildlife, in line with his passion as a climate activist for a better and breathable world.
“Throughout my courses, artist such Romain Maurer, Mary Sibande have inspired me and furthered my ambition to give a voice to nature, through my art.”
Koffi can be contacted via email at serge1.nguessan@gmail.com.