TETTEY
NARTEY
Korean Hanji Paper, Steel & Ink.
"Nartey expands his exploration of material and craft cultures by creating a dialogue between West African and Korean cultural heritages. By bridging these distinct traditions, he invites viewers into a space where West African and Korean aesthetics meet, collide, and coexist. Through this process, the "vessel" is explored not only as a physical object but also as a holder of the everyday and a symbol of culture, embedded in both material form and practice
The vessel, as a concept, is deeply ingrained in how we understand and interact with objects and spaces in our everyday lives. In ‹Kuruwa>, named after the Twi word for a small "cup" or "bowl" in the Akan culture of Ghana, this concept is expanded into a metaphorical realm. Here, any object, regardless of its form or material, can serve as a vessel —a table, for instance, can become a platform for dialogue and exchange.
Crafted from mulberry fibers, the traditional Korean hanji paper used in <Kuruwa> adds a layer of cultural significance to the work. The paper's diaphanous quality, which balances separation and permeability, mirrors the dual nature of the vessel-it is both a container and a medium for exchange. The intricate folds and appliqués that adorn the surface of the work are the result of communal acts, echoing the process of inscribing cultural memory onto the vessel”
2024