With great pleasure we announce our new quest Bernard Akoi-Jackson from Ghana, who is invited in the framework of the collaboration between the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and the Thami Mnyele Foundation.
Bernard Akoi-Jackson will participate in the Stedelijk Museums' Blikopener project as part of the Global Collaborations programme. The Blikopeners are young people, peer educators of 15-19 years old, with a fresh perspective on art. They represent a wide variety of backgrounds, study a range of different courses and come from all over the Greater Amsterdam area. The Blikopeners give guided tours and advice about all aspects of the Stedelijk Museum.

Bernard Akoi-Jackson will be resident at the Thami Mnyele Foundation during the months September and October, 2014.

About the artist:
Bernard Akoi-Jackson is an internationally renowned artist from Ghana. As a student at the KNUST art school in Kumasi, he focused on painting, but quickly moved beyond the possibilities offered by the painter's canvas. Akoi-Jackson makes extensive use of everyday materials, enlarges commonplace actions into rituals, manipulates texts he encounters and plays with the symbolic values of color. A recurring theme is his exploration of concepts such as identity and originality and the question of how, in our society, we construct value judgments around these concepts. What does it mean to be Dutch; what does it mean to be Ghanaian? What role does history play? As Akoi-Jackson holds a mirror up to us, his viewers, his approach to these poignant issues is critical, yet laden with humor and joy.
Education is an essential part of his practice as an artist. He also teaches art at Tema International School, a private Ghanaian high school near to the capital city Accra, where he, with his colleague, gladly bring young people into contact with art.

He has exhibited at numerous venues internationally. In 2012 he took part at the group exhibition Time, Trade & Travel at SMBA Amsterdam.

Bernard Akoi-Jackson will be our guest during September and October 2014. His visit is part of the collaborative effort between the Thami Mnyele Foundation and the Stedelijk Museum Amstedam.


For the Time, Trade & Travel show at SMBA
Please see here for more information


For article at Metropolis M
Please see here for more information

For his recent work at the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam
Please see here for more information