Eric Asamoah (*1999) is a photographer living in Upper Austria who traveled to his parents' country of origin, Ghana, for his latest project Forever Lasts Until It Ends. The images, taken in the north of the West African republic, show adolescents in seemingly tranquil settings and in their relaxed togetherness, resting, reading or making music, with a sense of contemplation embedded in the picturesque landscape of Talensi and Tongo.
Community, a collective sense of growing up and independence, time and its transience are central to this analog photographed series.
The exhibition of Eric Asamoah's work will be expanded to include the photographic series The Day After Tomorrow, which was created in 2021 and is thus being presented for the first time as part of an exhibition. Up to now, it had appeared exclusively as a publication and was awarded "The Most Beautiful Books in Austria, 2021". Asamoah photographed it in Ghana - in Accra and Kumasi: the sea, palm trees, scenes from city and beach life, and in between, again and again, young men - alone or in groups. The pictures tell of the sensitive phase of transition into adulthood in which they are currently finding themselves.
"There is a sense of calm, exploration, and patience in the images, as it seems the subjects are preparing for the day when they will find their peace, the answers, and themselves."
- Eric Asamoah
For Eric Asamoah, coming to terms with his parents' country of origin is a self-reflexive process, a way of coming to terms with his personal coming of age. |
