Born and raised in Kumasi in September 1993,AL Hassan Issah is a Ghanaian contemporary artist who delved into arts,precisely drawings at the very early stages of his life,stating emphatically that “he doesn’t remember any specific period in his life were he wasn’t drawing”.
This greatly influenced his education as he studied arts in high school,went on to receive his bachelor of fine arts certificate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in 2018 and a Master of Fine Arts certificate in 2023 from the same university.
Hassan’s fascination with painting and it’s relation to sculpture and architecture,years of investigation,consistency,how the cities subconsciously answer some of his complex questions with regards to paintings and his interest in the histories that shape our contemporary sociopolitical landscape led him to creating the pieces he’s known for.
Although he’s inspired by quite a number of people and things ,the most essential ones are artists like Godfred Donkor,Karikacha Seidou who happened to be his supervisor,his day to day strolls around the city of Kumasi and the everyday life within every city he finds himself in.
As an artist,Hassan has had both local and international exhibitions in countries like Ghana,Togo,France,Germany,America,with his most recent body of works being exhibited across three cities in Ghana.
The exhibition titled “KUM ASE:A FIELD FILLED WITH GOLDEN SPIKES” was a solo exhibition that had works of Hassan being exhibited in Kumasi,Accra and Tamale. Each city had fascinating and captivating pieces because “Hassan leaves no room in making his works appear familiar and yet unfamiliar”.
“Kumasi or Kum Ase,which the inspired Hassan Issah’s practice,has it’s origin-myths marked by the “Kum tree”. The Kum tree to which the title of the show was after,is of special importance and token to the birth of Kumasi and the consolidation of the first Ashanti states in the 17th century.Kumasi’s history from the 17th century reveals assimilation of different cultures in its art,architecture,clothing,language;just like in every culture,shaped by trade,natural disasters,religion,war and so on;interacting with diverse cultures and continents.”
Having his works exhibited across the globe is where he sees himself in a few years time but most importantly he dreams of having his works in every part of Ghana.
With regards to viewers,Hassan wants his works to trigger memories and emotions in each viewers mind. Capturing their emotions and making them feel a strong sense of attachment with each piece they view.
Willing to go as far as his works can go,expanding and growing without limits,Hassan seeks to gift his life’s work to humanity,make himself accessible,share,love and care through art.
CREATIVE FACTORY ✍🏼🖼 