Edward Prah, Out of Breath

Impact Building, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana

17 August - 2 September 2023

‘Out of Breath’ laid the foundation for Prah’s study on the idea of time as a tangible material, reflected in the transformative nature of photographic materials.

In his effort to manipulate, stretch, and distort time, he perceives it as a body capable of being stretched, allowing the exploration of fictional narratives. This approach enables the examination and imagination of various realities—both utopian and dystopian—that shape understanding and stimulate discussions.

The exhibition featured works on synthetic leather that effectuate the surface aesthetics of photographic prints, which the artist refers to as "broken images." These pieces emphasize their inherent transformative qualities, both in their process and content. Additionally, reflexive aluminium composite panels were used to give an actual rather than metaphorical representation of time. These dynamic paintings continuously evolve, reflecting the space and time they occupy. Experiments with reactive metals such as copper visibly demonstrated their transformation processes, underscoring his focus on the physicality of time. The installation invited the audience to walk through and around the works, establishing their relationship with the space and the oeuvre.
Exhibition text by Edward Prah, edited and prompt engineered by Abbey IT-A
Contribution by Abbey IT-A (Straight Up Gasping).