There is still tomorrow
Ghanaian artist Rufai Zakari stitches together upcycled plastics to create textured, woven surfaces that bear a deep relationship to the land and local culture. Since his last exhibition with the gallery in London in 2021, Zakari has been forced to relocate permanently to Accra due to the resurfacing of tribal conflicts in his hometown of Bawku. However, rather than focusing on the hardships currently facing the local communities, Zakari’s latest works are a celebration of a vibrant past and a message of hope for the future. There is still tomorrow, the artist’s solo exhibition at Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery Berlin, presents a bold new series of portraits that encapsulate this optimism. The figures appear relaxed and joyful as they pose proudly in bright, elaborate clothes or caught in playful, childish activities.
