Artist 229 Prince Gyasi Colour Soul Photography Prince Gyasi Nyantakyi (born 1995) also known by the artist name Prince Gyasi is a Ghanaian international visual artist. He is the co-founder of Boxedkids, a non-profit organization helping kids from Accra,Ghana get an education. Prince Gyasi specializes in photo prints, noted for their soulful and vibrant colors. Colors are an essential element in Gyasi’s work. His vivid hues are more than aesthetically appealing because for Gyasi, “color can serve as a therapy, it can treat depression and transform emotions.” Gyasi is unique in many ways. This 23 year old forthright artist has always been drawn to the visual arts. From an early age, Prince was exposed to photography, color, and composition. Prince, “when my mother went fabric shopping at Makola Market, she’d drop me off at this photographer’s small studio.”
In high school, Prince began experimenting with photography, capturing photos of the world around him using his cellphone. Since then he has purposefully continued to create with his phone, saying, “the norm is not for everyone. I’m different and I’m stubborn. I like to challenge myself to do the same thing that traditional photographers do using just my phone” (interview, Nataal Magazine). Prince creates images that tell the stories of marginalized individuals who are often pushed aside in society.
Most of his images are created in his hometown of Accra, using the surrounding landscapes and community as his muse. Each hyper colorful print reveals fundamental human emotions that are tied in with a person’s life such as fatherhood, motherhood or childhood. By using his iPhone, Prince captures both resiliency and strength through his striking silhouettes placed against brightly altered landscapes and vivid backgrounds. His art showcases the nobility and grace of black skin, offering viewers a counter-narrative to dominant notions of beauty.
Community is important to Prince. In addition to being a professional artist, he is the co-founder of BoxedKids, the title referring to “kids who are trapped in a place or situation,” which helps underprivileged children from Jamestown, Accra.
Since the start of this foundation, Gyasi has collaborated with kids from this area, bringing creativity to their lives as well as setting up funds for their education, “so they can make a better future for themselves” (interview, Sukeban Magazine).
“The inspiration came when I helped my mother organize an event for underprivileged children in August 2016. I noticed that many of them were creative but unable to either recognize their talents or develop them due to poverty and lack of education so Kuukua (my partner) and I decided to create boxed kids organization to raise funds and help these kids pursue their dreams.” - Prince Gyasi
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Sources Consulted: https://www.princegyasi.com/about https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Gyasi
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