Joseph Amedokpo

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Mamiwata

Joseph Amedokpo is a Togolese painter whose reputation and work are respected and becoming more and more so across the world. Amedokpo was born in Vogan, Togo (West Africa) in 1946, and moved to Lagos, Nigeria at the age of eight where he received his education and art training, receiving a scholarship to the Yaba Trade Center where he studied fine art from 1966-1968. He has been supporting himself and his family through painting since the eighties, when he became respected enough to develop a steady income base.

Once turbulent, the area of Vogan now generally shares the common cultural heritage of ancestor worship and the spiritist based religion of Vodun. The still vibrant practice of Vodun and the many ancient folk tales and legends of the Yoruba, Fon, and Ewe cultures form the inspiration for much of Joseph Amedokpo's work.

Fans of Amedokpo's work find it unique and interesting. He paints in a very geometric style, portraying abstract figures and shapes which overlap and crowd the space of the canvas. He uses earthy tones in his works, and his paintings have a granular texture to them. There is a strong presence of symbolism in the imagery of Amedokpo's works.