Description
OD Photo Prize 2025 | Runner Up
Sarfo Emmanuel Annor [b.2002, Ghana] is a young visual artist who uses colour to share the stories and dreams of young people from his hometown, Koforidua. At the confluence of portrait and documentary photography, he uses his smartphone/camera to revive the art of portraiture by capturing colourful images of the local youth, translating the dynamic story of contemporary Africa. He hopes his work can tell a beautiful African story while providing therapy for his audience. In his own words: “I use colour as a language for emotions. I use these vibrant colours in my works to act as a colour therapy for myself and hopefully for my audience too.
Artist Statement | Youthful Spirits is a photography series that captures the lives, dreams, and resilience of African children, especially young girls. Through powerful portraits, it explores themes of unity, identity, and social inequality, using a continuous rope as a visual metaphor. This line connects the children, symbolizing shared humanity, community, and relationships, while also representing the constraints they may face. The series challenges stereotypes, celebrates African beauty and spirit, and aims to inspire global empathy by portraying youth not just as subjects, but as symbols of hope and a more equitable future.
“This artwork reflects unity, resilience and the strong yet delicate bonds that connect communities along diverse paths. The blue background amplifies the contrast of their connection, emphasising the space between them. Their distinguished attire in the artwork signify a cultural unity. The red rope is a symbol of both connection and opposition, suggesting themes of family ties, community, or shared heritage, but also hinting at the tension or struggles within these relationships.The white cloth in the centre represents a neutral ground and a symbol of hope, purity, and a reconciliation amid the push and pull”. – Sarfo Emmanuel
All print enquiries:
tom@opendoors.gallery
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