Agorsor

Top-class art on canvas is currently complementing the modern architecture of the Hotel Berchtold in Burgdorf (Switzerland): Vibrant and colourful paintings by the Ghanaian artist Kofi Agorsor (an insider tip) are on display and for sale. The exhibition continues until 24th September,2005.


(Original article in German by Kathrin Henschke)


From 30th April until 24th September, 2005, the Hotel Berchtold in Burgdorf offers more than the usual business and restaurant facilities: The opening show of the Ghanaian artist Kofi Agorsor not only lured visitors from Burgdorf and Berne to the hotel lobby; but art lovers from Zürich and other parts of Switzerland were equally attracted. Agorsor is generally considered as an insider tip from Africa amongst art lovers.
The Director of the Hotel Berchtold, Beat Rauber, said “The interest to turn the hotel into a cultural centre, lies in the nature of the architectural concept.” The exhibition was organized by Matthew and Flavia Robin, friends of the artist, and by the Management of the Stadthaus Group. The colourful paintings (acryl on canvas) adorn the walls of the hotel lobby, the restaurant and the conference rooms.


A delighted Agorsor said “I am happy to be able to exhibit my artwork here. I am doing this for all my children. I have worked very hard for it.” The proceeds of the paintings sold will also be used to support orphans in Accra (Ghana). During the introductory speech by his friend Matthew Robin, Agorsor stood close to his easel, sporting beads and cowry around his neck, displaying the proverbial African stoicism.
When Arno Stein, the Director of the Kunstpark Management AG, interspersed his speech with a few sentences in English, Agorsor showed his catching smile. Although he only understands English, Agorsor understands all the more about human beings and the small things in everyday life. His humorous paintings, inspired by the world of music – in particular his music group – and by the Ghanaian society – mostly women, also illustrate his ironic and provocative side. Yet he won’t elaborate on the latter in English: He prefers to discuss “his” children that have grown to his heart and whom he supports with the proceeds of the paintings sold.


Agorsor plays a tune from the Volta Region (Ghana) on his flute, accompanying it with a local dance. Later, a cluster of spectators forms in front of the artist’s easel, admiring the dexterity of his fingers while he covers the canvas with acrylic colour. When asked from where he draws his inspiration, he grasps a brush and paints the answer: a questioning woman…
Exhibitions of this kind are an important motivator for Agorsor as they are difficult to mount in his home country where art is not sufficiently valued. His work adorns the walls of various consulates, hotel lobbies, public institutions and art galleries in Ghana and abroad.

• Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra
• Novotel, Accra
• Italian Cultural Institute, Accra
• National Museum & Theatre, Accra
• Artists Alliance, Accra

• Gatobar, Lomé, Togo
• Gaborone, Botswana
• Harare, Zimbabwe
• Lagos, Nigeria
• Johannesburg, South Africa
• Abidjan, Ivory Coast
• Cotonou, Benin
• CCFN, Niamey, Niger


• Dauphin Gallery, Singapore
• Ghawaco, Ontario, Canada
• Art Expo’98, Los Angeles, USA
• St.Louis, Missouri, USA
• Washington D.C., USA
• Dallas, Texas, USA
• Philadelphia, USA

• Arte Fiera 98, Bologna, Italy
• Tramremise, Amsterdam, Holland
• Bettendorff’sche Galerie, Heidelberg, Germany
• Fresh Art Show 2003, London, UK
• The Biscuit Factory, Newcastle, UK
• Galerie Artrium, Stäfa, Switzerland
• Galerie Loeffel, Basel, Switzerland
• Hotel Berchtold, Burgdorf, Switzerland

Kofi Agorsor was born near Akatsi (Volta region), Ghana, in 1970. After two years of architectural studies at the Kpando Technical College, Agorsor discovered his true passion, painting, and subsequently enrolled at the Ankle College of Art in Accra in 1989, where he obtained an art diploma in 1993. The painter and musician lives and works in Accra. He is an acknowledged member of the "Artists Alliance”, founded by Professor Ablade Glover in 1989.

Agorsor is often referred to as a “versatile artist of the 21st Century”: His style ranges from impressionism to cubism. From there, Agorsor started to develop his own painting style which can be described as “ reduced to abstraction “, combining it with bold colours and enhancing the expressive effect with subtle elements of irony taken from Ghanaian daily life as well as global jazz music.

Agorsor’s colourful and humorous artwork (mostly acryl on canvas) partly reflects the vibrant dynamics and the vivid expression of his traditional jazz group; yet, the educational system as well as the contribution and position of women in Ghanaian society are also depicted on canvas in a provocative way.
With his artwork and his music band, Agorsor fulfils the role of a cultural and humanitarian missionary of his country. Hence, parts of the proceeds of the paintings sold go to support local orphanages and schools in Ghana.


Agorsor’s artwork adorns the walls of quite a number of consulates, hotel lobbies, public institutions and galleries in Ghana and abroad.
Amongst others, the artist has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions between 1993 and 2009.

" I paint the deepest part of my nature, because I am always laughing, I laugh all the time. I paint my own truth, joy, happiness. I love women, I love their company. One night as I was drawing the outline of a woman, I discovered drawing from life, and I realized that I drew the lines in the way a child does. "


When asked by an art historian in Switzerland: “ Which is your favourite colour?" , Agorsor replied: “ I have none, but if I was to choose one, it would be white. "


“ To be an artist does not just mean painting, playing music, sculpturing or acting, but rather, preserving one’s spiritual cultural heritage. “


" Art is an expression of your soul transformed into images on canvas. "