Founded by world renowned contemporary artist Amoako Boafo. dot.ateliers was founded with the intention of developing an environment that is both environmentally and socially conscious.To launch the multi functional art space, Boafo launched dot.ateliers’ first art residency which was attended by fellow Ghanaian Crystal Yayra Anthony.
A.S: Can you explain how the residency program influenced your creative process?
C.Y: How much influence it has had on me still surprises me. The team isn’t new to me and I had thought nothing was going to change. Well, I was wrong. The space was enormous and I had to live up to expectations. I wanted to impress. I remember Amoako telling me to just take it easy and have fun. So I did that, I poured a bunch of paint over my sketch and started to play around how moody a painting can get. I have always been intrigued by how Lynette Yiadom Boakye placed her characters in dark moody settings and that style worked with the emotions I wanted to portray; intimacy. I played around with different mediums till I found what I liked. Very dark purples and colors mixed with bright streaks of lights is quite different. The light streaks were also a happy accident I welcomed. It was basically just me and big white walls and I was told to play, so I did.
Courtesy of dot.ateliers, Photo by Nana Ampofo
A.S: What gems have you gained from the experience?
C.Y: I am not just the inaugural artist for Dot Ateliers, this is also my first residency, and for that I am grateful. The biggest gem would be that this was my introduction into the world of residencies. Everytime I reflect on my tenure at the residency, I realize all these little things I have picked up that have made such an impact. The light streaks are something I am excited to have uncovered. I have thought of ways to play around it and that’s exciting. The dark feel of the work from the residency too, is definitely a gem I hope to explore more of.
A.S: Can you describe your creative process? How has it been influenced by your time in the residency program?
C.Y: My creative process isn’t rigid; it’s fluid. Shaped by my emotions and the circumstances around me. Inspiration comes from various sources, such as real life, photography and the beauty of nature. For my current favorite piece, “The View from Here,” I drew inspiration from an old sketch I had created before my art career began. It was a nostalgic moment, revisiting my past work and infusing it with newfound creativity during my artist residency. The view in the window of the girl’s room was inspired by the view from the big windows in the residency studio, an uncompleted building from the next street, and the wall next door.
After sketching, I apply a wash of purple to my canvas. Before my residency, the wash was highly diluted and light. For a reason that wasn’t obvious to me, I used a darker wash, a purple that was almost black that led to the discovery of a cheat code to create darker-themed auras around my paintings. I remember reaching out to Amoako about liking my works in progress more than the finished work and he told me to let the work lead instead of always pursuing to control every aspect of the work. This advice changed the trajectory of my work. I stopped repainting every nook and cranny. I pick and choose what gets a second layer of painting. The new technique helps in highlighting features that contribute to the narrative of the painting, allowing a more organic and storytelling-driven approach to my art.
Courtesy of dot.ateliers, Photo by Nana Ampofo
A.S: Do you have a specific project or piece that you are currently working on, and the inspiration behind it?
C.Y: Yess! I am currently working on a movie project that tells the story of a strong Ghanaian queen that is mostly known by her name. I aim to tell her stories from a human perspective. I am a multi-disciplinary artist who is passionate about sharing African-themed stories through various mediums. My focus lies in the belief that the narratives of African legends and heroes should be conveyed through film by African storytellers. I believe that the usual representation of Africa and the African by the west lacks the most authentic portrayal. They are often devoid of the perspective of Africans telling their stories mostly because they are not produced for Africans on the continent. To bridge this gap, I have taken the initiative to act first. My co-writers and I are wrapping up the script for a 4-5 minute reel that will act as a teaser to the movie to be used to enter festivals and reach out investors to raise funds.
A.S: How do you envision your work evolving after residency?
C.Y: I see my art going beyond the wall. I have this dream to have a collaboration with Rihanna for SavageX Fenty (fingers crossed). I see people wearing me, which is ironic because most of my subjects as an artist are nude. (Laughing) But truly, I am passionate about making art beyond aesthetics. I would like to grow into fashion; along the lines of lingerie. As well as architecture and ceramics. The closest evolution would actually be into clay. I am excited by the idea that clay gets to be in our everyday lives all the time, from plates to tiles. I definitely see myself as a ceramicist.
A.S: What do you hope to achieve in the future as an artist?
C.Y: I hope to be a voice that has made an impact. I want what I say and all the many reasons I create the art I create to change some of the problems I have identified in the world. One would be, in an ideal world, the goal is to be a respected artist. In our flawed world, the goal is to be a renowned female African artist. That would mean that I would have my works in notable collections and museums. I recently visited a museum for the first time, quite ironic as an artist myself. As a self taught artist who is still learning, I get the hype around it. I definitely want my work hanging or displayed in museums all over the world. I want to be part of the move of revamping museum culture on the continent through infrastructure provision, the creation of works, and sensitization of relevant patrons.
For more information and updates on Crystal, check her instagram here. For more information about dot.ateliers check out their website here.
