Born in 1966 to a Ghanaian mother and Togolese father, Gabriel Eklou makes paintings that bring contemporary Ghana into fuller view. Self taught, Eklou maintains that painting brings him closer to nature, his culture and his people in particular. Prolific, Eklou carved a niche for himself with evocative works that tell stories of people combined with ancient cultural symbols and primitive animals. Many are a series of vignettes; paintings within paintings. Whether it is the bustling of the day, market activity or ruling chiefs, a story is unfolding.
His compositions remain unaffected by the art establishment and strong in their individuality and uniqueness. His trademark elongated figures are majestic and proud. They exude inner strength, their stilt like legs stretching deep into the red African soil. They are contemporary Africans; dancing, come home, hunting, working or sitting in quiet contemplation.
Eklou has an uncanny ability to convey a contemporary Africa well grounded in the past and the future. The symbol of greatness, charisma and leadership is present in many paintings, and represents Eklou’s belief that life is one of inspiration and leadership.
Eklou’s paintings have been exhibited at Imprints of Africa, Ordrup Sognegard Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark in 2005 and Alliance Francais in Accra, Ghana, 2001.
In 2006 he was commissioned to create Golden Exotic Plantation, a gift for President John Kofi Agyekum Kufour, Republic of Ghana in 2006.
Gabriel Eklou Selected exhibitions (Group)
2006 – Fairfield Artists Studio Tour & Exhibition, Canada
2006 – Sensations, Accra, Ghana
2005 – Dialogue, Loom Gallery, Accra, Ghana
2005 – Artists Alliance Gallery, Accra, Ghana
2004 – Madagascar
2004 – Golden Tulip, Accra, Ghana
2003 – Black Swan, London, UK
2002 – Alliance Francaise, Accra, Ghana
1999 – Munich, Germany
1996 – The Canadian High Commission, Accra, Ghana
1989 – The Foyer des Marin, Lome, Togo
1987 – Hotel du golf, Lome, Togo
19987 – The French Cultural Centre (CCF), Lome, Togo
(Solo)
2007 – The Harmattan, Accra, Ghana
2005 – Imprints of Africa, Ordrup Sognegard, Copenhagen, Denmark |
