According to ghana news agency:ccording to Ghana News Agency, Mr Mensah spoke at the opening, emphasizing his focus on material representation in contemporary art and the transformation of materials to create new meanings and visual narratives. He highlighted that his sculptural practice delves into how materials carry histories, symbolism, and cultural memory, and their reconfiguration into powerful artistic discourse.
The exhibition features portraits of past and present presidents of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, using the subjects' gaze and facial expressions to engage themes of leadership, continuity, and collective identity. Mr Mensah explained that the works draw inspiration from the theory of mimesis, transitioning beyond mere imitation to interpretive reconstructions of memory, presence, and historical consciousness. These portraits function as cultural artifacts that connect individual histories with collective remembrance, inviting reflection on ancestry, authority, and the enduring relevance of traditional institutions within contemporary society.
One of the key innovations in the exhibition is the repositioning of charcoal from its traditional use as a drawing medium into monumental sculptural forms. Mr Mensah noted that this approach challenges conventional boundaries between drawing and sculpture, expanding the expressive possibilities of black materiality in contemporary art. He emphasized sustainability in his artistic process, collecting discarded charcoal fragments and waste grit from market spaces to transform them into raw materials for sculpture production. This transformation of waste into art reflects ecological responsibility and the renewed value of overlooked matter.
Charcoal in the exhibition serves as both a material and a metaphor, with its deep black tonality symbolizing blackness, identity, sacredness, and memory. Madam Rejoice Makafui Tsotorvor, Curator of the exhibition, explained that Black Mimesis stands at the intersection of environmental consciousness and sculptural innovation, transforming discarded charcoal grit from Ghanaian market spaces into a medium for profound artistic expression. The synthesis of charcoal powder and resin creates a striking matte black surface, exploring themes of identity, permanence, and memory.
Madam Tsotorvor noted that the artist's studio-based and experimental process challenges traditional limits of sculpture and demonstrates how environmental waste can be transformed into vessels of cultural identity and artistic innovation. Mr Osborne Noah Tam, Education Officer at the Volta Regional Museum, described Mr Mensah as a passionate sculptor and researcher whose works reflect a deep commitment to contemporary sculptural forms and unconventional materials. He praised the artist's contribution to the training and mentorship of emerging artists and designers through his teaching and studio practice.
Mr Mensah's philosophy of art encourages critical thinking, experimentation, and the integration of traditional cultural elements into contemporary artistic expression. His artworks capture the historic era of traditional rulers while blending contemporary artistic interpretations with sacred representations of traditional leadership. Mr Mensah holds Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degrees in Sculpture from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programme at the University of Education, Winneba.