TBA21 Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary

John Akomfrah

John Akomfrah (b. 1957, Accra, Ghana) is a Ghanaian-born British artist, filmmaker, writer, and theorist renowned for his pioneering work in experimental documentary and multichannel video installations. His art delves into themes of migration, colonialism, racial injustice, and environmental degradation, often intertwining personal narratives with broader historical contexts.

Akomfrah's early life was marked by political upheaval; after his father's death in a 1966 coup, he and his mother sought refuge in the United States before settling in London. This experience of displacement profoundly influenced his artistic vision. In 1982, he co-founded the Black Audio Film Collective (BAFC) in London, aiming to address Black British identity through innovative cinematic forms. Their debut film, *Handsworth Songs* (1986), utilized archival footage and poetic narration to explore the 1985 riots in Birmingham and London, earning the Grierson Award for Best Documentary in 1987.

Following the BAFC's dissolution in 1998, Akomfrah, along with collaborators Lina Gopaul and David Lawson, established Smoking Dogs Films. Their works continued to push the boundaries of filmic expression. Notable projects include *The Unfinished Conversation* (2012), a three-screen installation reflecting on cultural theorist Stuart Hall's life and ideas; *Vertigo Sea* (2015), a meditation on migration and the whaling industry; and *Purple* (2017), which examines climate change through a six-channel video installation.

In 2024, Akomfrah represented the UK at the Venice Biennale with *Listening All Night to the Rain*, a multi-screen installation that explores themes of colonialism, migration, and racial injustice through poetic and historical lenses.

Throughout his career, Akomfrah has received numerous accolades, including the Artes Mundi Prize in 2017 and a knighthood in the 2023 New Year Honours for his services to the arts.

For more information on Sir John Akomfrah's work and exhibitions, you can visit his official website: smokingdogsfilms.com

Related works in the collection

John Akomfrah Purple, 2017

John Akomfrah Transfigured Night, 2013

Related program

John Akomfrah Purple

The Ecologies of Peace

The Ecologies of Peace II Exhibition

Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary: The Commissions Book
Sternberg Press, 2020