DUBAI: Ghanaian British artist Kojo Marfo’s first solo exhibition in the UAE — “HOME: Heart of My Existence” — is being held at the JD Malat Gallery in Dubai until May 31.
The exhibition features 13 bold, large-scale works that invite viewers to a deeply personal and philosophical conversation about what it truly means to belong, and where that sense of belonging originates.
Best known for a vibrant style he calls “AfroGenesis,” Marfo blends influences from his Ghanaian heritage including Akan artifacts and carvings with Western techniques like Cubism and Old Master. The results are unique, with vivid, monumental figures that both conceal and reveal complex emotional narratives.
While his early inspirations include Spanish pioneer Picasso, Marfo has moved beyond mimicry to forge his own aesthetic.
“As time went on, I developed my own style and ideas — I call it ‘AfroGenesis.’ It sounds like a movement, but I want to say I am original. I am not trying to start a movement — I am just here to say, I’m authentic.”
A dialogue in color and form
While the dazzling colors and stylized forms initially captivate, it is the underlying message that lingers.
“This is about starting conversations,” Marfo explained. “We think we know everything, but we do not. We live in our minds 24/7 — it tells us what to do, how to feel. The physical space does not mean anything when the mind is in turmoil.”
“HOME” is not about a building or place. For Marfo, home is psychological, internal, shaped by emotion, experience and memory.
“We think home is four walls, a roof, and a lock — but it’s not,” he said. “This exhibition is an invitation for people to look deep into themselves. You need to know yourself, accept and learn from it.”
One of the standouts in the exhibition, “Freedom,” is a visual representation of this inner chaos.
“You can see how chaotic everything is,” said Marfo. “There is a shield — it is what society calls wearing a mask. It protects you from unnecessary aggression. It is our way of life.”
For him, the mask symbolizes humanity’s shifting identities, its emotional defenses and the delicate balance between self-expression and self-preservation.
An artistic evolution
Though Marfo’s work has been shown in global art hubs from Paris to Tokyo, this exhibition marks a significant turning point.
“When the gallery reached out to me, I said, ‘I’m going to introduce something different to this place.’ Most of these pieces have not been shown anywhere. I did it to spark a conversation in Dubai,” he said.
The exhibition is not just a geographical expansion — it is a deepening of his practice. Drawing inspiration from people and the intricacies of human behavior, Marfo paints with storytelling in mind: “Sometimes I paint and then think about the story, but it becomes more difficult. I prefer building on interactions — making it my own and then painting.”
