Patrick Tagoe-Turkson: From Trash to Treasure
Meet Ghanaian artist transforming ocean waste into thought-provoking art
ReadMeet Patrick Tagoe-Turkson
Patrick Tagoe-Turkson is a multidisciplinary artist from Takoradi, Ghana renowned for his distinctive artistic style. He ingeniously repurposes discarded materials into striking and meaningful art pieces, particularly flip-flops collected from the beaches of Ghana.
Artistic heritage
Patrick's traditional flag-making skills inform his techniques, creating an artistically unique approach to his work. His art conveys a powerful message about environmental awareness and harmful effects of plastic waste on our oceans and ecosystems.
Art and social responsibility
Patrick examines themes of identity, culture, and social responsibility in his work. His art acts as a medium for dialogue, encouraging viewers to consider their connection to the environment and their consumer choices.
Chalewote
The local name for flip-flops in Ghana is Chalewote.
Flip-flops are among the numerous plastic waste items polluting beaches across Ghana.
Waste to art
Tagoe-Turkson has created a series of works using discarded flip-flops collected from the Atlantic Ocean in Southern Ghana. His artistic process involves collecting, cleaning, and arranging these discarded flip-flops to create visually stunning artworks with intricate patterns and designs.
A celebrated artist
Patrick's art has been showcased in over 100 exhibitions worldwide, and is held in prestigious collections like the Royal Ontario Museum and Casoria Contemporary Art.
Photos: Ernest Kweku Edufo
Project manager: Kwabena Agyare Yeboah
Research, Text and Curatorial Support: Ama Benewaah Tawiah, Abraham Tettey, Sandra Taylor, and Abiodun Ayoola
