Abubakar Sulemana

Abubakar Sulemana is my name. I'm from Accra in Ghana. I transform silk threads into images, a kind of delicate threadwork that emulates paintings. I love the exuberant color expression, infusion and experimentation. I'm drawn to the element of euphoria which tends to infect the artist and the buyer.

I got interested in this art by events that led me into my genre. I was taught by my instructors at Ghanatta College. I mastered this craft by improvising, using self-devised and inspired tools.

"As my involvement grew, so did my learning and mastery. I gained experiential attributes as well as artistic status as a mature proponent of this art. I get my inspiration from my immediate surroundings, imaginations and sub-conscious mind.

"Today, I have taught my younger brother and give back to my community by nurturing and unearthing young talents.

"I've been a vegetarian for a long time. However I began transitioning to a raw vegan, which I believe is best for me. I was confronted with a series of unprecedented challenges and events, all arising from people who disagree with my choice. I faced fierce opposition, especially from my mum.

"I nearly succumbed to them when had a wake-up call. I felt it through my instincts. So I gained composure and reinstated my thoughts to be a raw vegan, thanks to my intuition. "Art is not a career that brings in a lot of money. My friends say I am assertive, defiant to challenges and one who possesses a high sense of humor. All this helped when I decided to work on my own. I didn't have a place or startup capital. So I started working from home and made some capital with which I rented a workshop.

"My hope is to rise to the top of this platform and reach the pinnacles of my career. I want to become the most sought after practitioner in the diasporas. My dream is to literally center on my project and narratives, which capture and disseminate the prevalent socio-economic issues identified with our demographics and seek holistic ways to address them."