Born and grown up in London, daughter of immigrants from Ghana, Heather Agyepong reveals the uncertainty of her country
She is Heather Agyepong. Among the young up-and-coming artists in a Great Britain which may or may not leave Europe, she is probably the one that better than any of her peers embodies and represents the psychodrama that Queen Elisabeth’s subjects are living through right now.
A visual artist, actor and performer, Heather has focused her intense and varied artistic productions on issues such as health and mental well-being, invisibility and the diaspora. In other words many of the ingredients that feature in this farcical drama called Brexit. Whether this connection with the issue that tops the ratings in Great Britain is intended or not matters little.
What matters is that the work of this young London performer is so strong. pervasive and cutting edge that she has won over both audiences and critics. “I use performance”, as Agyepong herself has admitted, “with a view to creating a cathartic experience for both myself and the spectator”.
Her work is appreciated because it’s deep, original and as we’ve suggested, it ticks all the boxes that are so dear to the British. Hardly surprisingly her works are now on display in a number of celebrated collections such as Autograph ABP, Hyman Collection, New Orleans Museum of Art and Mead Art Museum. But her success is also due to the fact that by playing with a number of different genres, including video and theatre, she offers a take on reality that affects different communities and interests.
Much the same as Brexit.
@GuidoTalarico
This article is also published in the November/December issue of eastwest.
You can buy the magazine at newsstand or subscribe.
Born and grown up in London, daughter of immigrants from Ghana, Heather Agyepong reveals the uncertainty of her country
