10 Questions With… Multidisciplinary Artist Zohra Opoku
In a 10-question interview with Interior Design and writer Ugonna-Ora Owoh, Zohra Opoku discusses how her creative journey is shaped by her Ghanaian-German heritage, using textiles to explore themes of identity, history, politics, and the African diaspora. With over two decades of artistic practice, she blends traditional and contemporary elements, incorporating archival images, screen printing, and vintage fabrics.
Opoku reflects on growing up in East Germany, where a lack of diversity prompted her to search for her own identity. Her family’s tradition of handcrafting, particularly her mother and grandmother’s sewing, introduced her to textiles. Moving to Ghana further deepened her artistic practice, inspired by the country’s cultural richness and history. Embracing her heritage, she created projects like Unraveled Threads, which connects her family history to Ghanaian textiles, such as kente cloth.
The importance of community and collaboration in Zohra's art encourages a broader, more inclusive view of African art within global conversations. She also reflects on the challenges of being an African female artist and advocates for greater recognition of African voices in the art world.
Currently, she is working on her screen print series Give Me Back My Black Dolls, which explores themes of race and identity through the lens of psychological experiments from the 1940s. The project, which includes research, workshops, and an upcoming exhibition, engages with communities and examines the intersections of cultural history, childhood development, and the African diaspora.
