Bright Danso was born in Ghana on July 13, 1996 in the Oti region. The latter is located not far from the border with Togo. Bright (Lumière in French) relies on fire for his works. This artist explained to Blawo that he has a wish: to gather his Ghanaian and then African peers within one academy. Objective: to (re)give arts a key position as part of the economy.
Fire is Kwamé (or Kwamé is fire), and his first name is Akan.
For every Akan working with fire is quite obvious. This ethnic group from Ghana and the Ivory Coast is very well known for its splendid adornments full of jewels. It is undoubtedly this rich spiritual heritage that inspired the young Bright Danso to develop a specific technique for working with the element associated with gods and ancestors.
Danso has always loved art, he completed his primary and secondary education thinking about the best way to bring out all the images and colors going through his mind.
In 2012, the young man created his first work entitled “The Sunset on the north” (Le coucher du soleil au nord). He lives in Worawora, a town in the region where he was born.
In his family, his artistic impulses and his way of expression are quite surprising. Bright Speaking to Blawo, Danso has said several times: “I think of art as a way to communicate with the world”. His grandmother and mother need time to understand that the young man chose the artistic path to be heard.
Using fire seems logical when you know that in Akan country, names have a meaning. The artist known as Bright Danso is called Kwamé by his family. This name is part of his civil status. Kwamé is one of the surnames that the Akan associate with the day of the sun (sunday). The latter being the only perpetually burning star in the Milky Way.
We often talk about fire beneath the ice, but Bright Danso is everything but cold. Sparkling eyes, he often smiles, revealing his teeth of happiness. It is only natural that the young man chooses wood known for its vitality and warmth to create most of his works.
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The three axes of Danso’s pyrographic work
“I’m not influenced by other African artists” says Bright Danso. There are two reasons for this:
● On the one hand, because few artists use pyrography in Africa.
● On the other hand, because the technique developed by the young Ghanaian is mixed.
The range of techniques used by “King Amenophis”, one of Danso’s artist names, varies according to the type of work he intends to do.
Working on furniture
Sometimes Bright Danso chooses to customize furniture (benches, stools, chairs, armchairs…). For this purpose, he uses an electric arc. This arc is generated by two electrodes similar to those connecting the two terminals of the battery that all car drivers have under the hood of their car.
In order for the electricity to go from the positive terminal to the negative one, thus looping the electrical circuit, the energy passes through the wood and burns it. Moistening the wood with a special fluid, of which he alone has the formula, allows this natural material to become conductive.
Isn’t it dangerous to combine water and electricity?
“I’ve already experienced several electric shocks while working” admits Bright Danso. The artist sees each of these shocks as an opportunity to improve his safety and style. Bright Danso takes his cue from Alfred de Musset’s quote “Man is a pupil, pain is his teacher and no one knows himself until he has suffered”.
Portrait drawing
When King Amenophis wants to draw a portrait, for example, he plugs in a soldering iron. The latter is used like a paintbrush on a piece of wood, often dry, on which a sketch has previously been made. Drawing the lines seems simple. On the other hand, giving volume to the work is quite impressive. Indeed, it is all a matter of pressure. If the artist puts his instrument lightly down, the result is a brown/caramel hue. If he applies his instrument firmly, the result is light brown/dark brown or even black.
Working on the background
When it comes to creating the background colour of a work, Bright Danso grabs his torch after fastening a small gas bottle under the instrument. Once the tool is fired using a lighter, the resulting flame burns the wood and darkens it.
Working on the background of some of the young Ghanaian’s works is done by placing various tips on the soldering iron he uses for drawing. This allows, for example, circular or rectangular patterns to be aligned as the young creator wishes.
The birth of his works
Like most young people his age, Mother Okobea’s son often has earphones plugged in his ears. It is to the rhythm of tracks such as Roddy Rich’s “Symphonies”, Kendrick Lamar’s “Beach Don’t Kill My Vibe” as well as all the songs on Sarkodie’s “Black Love album” that Bright Danso projects ideas hatched several hours or days earlier onto wood.
Bright Danso creates on average one piece and a half per month since its first artwork done in 2012. His artwork always starts with a few notes taken on his tablet at any time of the day or night.
“I let the ideas I note mature, grow like plants, then I come back to explore, improve, rediscover them before starting the creation phase” explains Bright Danso. The “operational” phase depends on the size of the work. A 60*40 cm portrait is usually completed in 5 to 7 days. For an XXL work, it can take from 14 to 30 days. The artist does not impose any deadline on himself. He works hard for 4 to 8 hours a day until he feels that the work is finished.
The three unforgettable artworks
Among the 150 artworks that Bright Danso created, at least 3 have made a lasting impression on him.
First, there is “Black UniTec”. Bright Danso has frozen his doubts, his fears, but also his hopes in this piece which fundamental message is: appearances can be deceptive. The artist invites us to get to know the other person before coming to an opinion. In other words, “we must avoid adopting preconceived ideas and judging without knowing” explains the young creator with his eyes sparkling when he thinks back on this artwork.
Then there is a painting entitled “Legacy”. This work explores the past, the experience of the young Ghanaian’s ancestors. This piece pays tribute to the efforts of these generations, celebrates their courage and sense of sacrifice. So many qualities that have allowed the present generations to be who they are: to enjoy freedom of expression, to have self-esteem, to feel worthy and respected by society.
Lastly, his third unforgettable work is entitled “Cage of Liberty”. It is intended for the artist’s fellow contemporaries. The painting urges them to break the mental chains that others are trying to put on (today’s) Africans. Every son or daughter of Africa must understand that he or she is valuable, that he or she bears a treasure, a talent that no one else will be able to express in the same way. “#AfricaMatters, we must be aware of this and do something about it so that it becomes our daily life” explains Bright Danso.
Projects for the future and the outlook on society
“Politics is taking over Africa” claims King Amenophis, before saying that he wants this to change. The artist pays little attention to politics. To the question “is there a political leader who has made an impact on you”, the young man answers “yes, the president of Rwanda” without being able to name Paul Kagame specifically. “I love this man but I don’t know why” tries to explain Bright Danso. Then he puts forward a theory: “… perhaps he made an impact on me because he seems to think more about the future of Rwanda and Africa than the present of his country and the continent”.
This importance given to the future is also noticeable in Bright Danso’s projects. He is seeking a change of perception: “We African artists must create a market so that citizens from other continents come to buy our works in Africa and pay the right price”. According to the young Ghanaian, this will, on the one hand, increase the income of African countries. On the other hand, it will improve the perception of artistic professions in families. “We African artists must be perceived as creators of wealth”. His project is to create in 10 years an academy bringing together artists from Ghana and gradually, from all over Africa. This academy will be a place “promoting innovation”, which will help increase the added value of artworks created on the continent.
By Thomas Ayissi.