Magic

Nothingness

Statements by Lawrence Kwakye | 2023

I make an effort to visualize the systemic world through my art. Within this world, humanity holds on to its position. The storyline is about how humanity gets lost and struggles because we as humans cannot escape dependency.

 Lawrence 2022

How can I be human?

Have I sidelined myself as a person through my attempts at self-actualisation?

If our human existence is limited to just functionality within a system of infinite expansion, then I think it is.

In the man-made world of measurability and controllability, there is no place for unpredictable and vulnerable people. It is therefore not surprising that machines and computers are taking our places. What’s even more astonishing is that we attribute machines to life, when they should be life-supporting to me. Has our species now been abandoned and is there only room for artificial intelligence in the future? Transhumanism also comes into play here. Our body is not good enough and has a limited lifespan so get rid of it! What happens to people’s self-confidence as we have known it up to now and can there still be a sense of purpose? The reality we have ended up in today may show different meanings than in the past, but for whom is this a problem? Most of us are now so conditioned within the contemporary (synthetic) reality that we are not even aware of the fact that we are now on a different track when it comes to meaning. Could it be that this unconscious shift of meaning has led us to increasingly struggle with uncertainty and unpredictability because we no longer have a clear picture of who or what we are?

It is frightening for someone of my generation to think about this and yet it is my biggest source of inspiration at the moment. You could even say that it generates a moment of creativity because less certainty opens doors to new worlds. One of those worlds is the world of non-human knowledge. The realisation that as human beings we play a role within a larger system of which we cannot see the overview, but we do feel that we have a responsibility, a role or a share within this ecosystem, gives hope and brings perspective. The condition is that we are human and that we must secure our existence to make it to the next day.

A Personal Alignment

In my capacity as both designer and artist, I delve into the ways in which individuals can realign themselves within the labyrinthine construct of reality. This could necessitate the formulation of novel survival strategies. A reimagining of reality that resets our essence, reconnecting us with our innate humanity and its cosmic context.

In my artistic journey, I explore fresh existential paradigms, occasionally navigating realms detached from societal norms – an interstitial domain. This is a realm both within and beyond, ubiquitous yet intangible. Here, I withdraw, enabling the exploration of diverse modes of existence; a liberation of sorts. I’ve named this domain the “In-Between,” succinctly expressed as Between open borders and isolation (BOB & I) – denoting the juncture between boundless exploration and introspective solitude. This term also encapsulates my hybrid, multifaceted endeavour, a project interweaving distinct art forms into a cohesive universe that unfurls gradually.

Embodiment in Art

My artistic creations bear the hallmark of layered complexity, a dance between the tangible and the abstract. Textiles, often fragments of jute or cotton, sometimes aglow, form the tapestry of my compositions. Through a process I’ve coined “Imprint,” I’ve evolved a unique method to meld these materials, sometimes accompanied by paints.

Photography, a vital medium, seamlessly intertwines with my artwork, fusing with painting and my Imprint technique to birth something new and enthralling.

Lawrence Kwakye at Art up Lile | 2021

Overview of all my activities on design & art

Civilization design

Product design