Battle Royale II: Pantheon of Champions

Gallery 1957 London is delighted to present 'Battle Royale II: Pantheon of Champions' a new solo exhibition by British-Ghanaian artist Godfried Donkor (b. 1964, Kumasi, Ghana), following a residency with the Gallery in Accra. Showing a new body of work, the exhibition marks the culmination of over 20 years of research by Donkor into colonialism, slavery, intercontinental trade relationships and the socio-historical relations of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. Using the history of boxing and its origin within Ghana as the cornerstones of his extensive research, Donkor examines its social-historical relevance and its relationship with the slave trade within the...

Godfried Donkor (b. 1964, Ghana. Lives and works in Accra and London) is a mixed-media and multidisciplinary artist interested in the socio-historical relationships of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. Known for his collages utilising newspaper and gold leaf in a religious-like imagery. As well as paintings which explore the relationship between slave trade and boxing, and sculptures whic...

Godfried Donkor (b. 1964, Ghana. Lives and works in Accra and London) is a mixed-media and multidisciplinary artist interested in the socio-historical relationships of Africa, Europe and the Caribbean. Known for his collages utilising newspaper and gold leaf in a religious-like imagery. As well as paintings which explore the relationship between slave trade and boxing, and sculptures which offer a new take on the traditional adinkra symbolism of Ghana. Adinkras offer a short-hand, often humorous representation of shared lessons, proverbs, and philosophies. They have the potential to encapsulate collective values and reflect on the health of our communities in these unprecedented times.

Donkor completed a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art at Central Saint Martins, London and a Master of Arts in African Art History at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. Selected solo and group presentations include: 'David Adjaye: Making Memory', Design Museum, London (2019); 'The First Day of the Yam Custom: 1817', Gallery 1957, 'Accra (2017); Afriques Capitales', Parc dela Villiette, Paris (2017); 'Still the Barbarians', EVA International Ireland’s Biennial, Limerick (2016); 'Conversations: African and African American artworks in Dialogue', Smithsonian National Museum of African Art, Washington, USA (2016-2014); '28 days: Reimagining Black History Month', J M .Barnicke gallery and Georgia Scherman projects, Toronto, Canada (2012); 'Space and Currencies', Museum of Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa (2010) and 'Pin Up', Tate Modern, London, UK (2004).

In 1998, the artist was awarded the Prix de la Revelation at the Dakar Biennale. Donkor’s work is included in international collections such as: Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam; Smithsonian Museum of African Art, Washington USA; Studio Museum, Harlem; Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester; Spanish Sports Council Collection; National Collection of Senegal; University of Helsinki; National Gallery of Botswana; The World Bank Collection; Washington D.C and The Unilever Collection. The artist was commissioned by the Camberwell Society to create a public art piece for Denmark Hill Station, London, which was unveiled in 2022. His work will be featured in the group exhibition titled 'People of Colour: Black Portraiture Now' curated by Ekow Eshun opening at the National Portrait Gallery, London, in early 2024 and then touring in the USA.