Future Artifacts

In Brown-Kossi’s latest series, titled Artifact, the artist pushes the boundary of his earlier exploration of a juxtaposing concept: the archaeological pop artist. After a recent trip to numerous countries of his roots, including France and the Ivory Coast, Brown-Kossi explored museums and archeological sites of Afro-descendant frescoes, carvings, and other historical and contemporary art pieces. Using this inspiration, Brown-Kossi is hoping to restore society to our ancestral beginnings. One important reference is the contribution of ancient Egypt to the evolution of the written word as we know it.

The textured surface in Artifact is made of built-up plaster and sand, which point towards the past. The contrasting vivid pop colors act as signal to the present and future. In this way, the artist is simultaneously portraying multiple timelines and exploring their connectedness. The recollection of what has been lost and what is yet to be discovered in the future is another underlying theme in this new work. Additionally, the artist is interested in archival methods of museums and private collections and the repatriation of historical artifacts to their rightful owners, often Africa. The naming of each piece, 22:22 for example, references the idea of a future archival system yet to be in place for his works. The symbols on each artwork are a continuation of previous series, namely Symbols and Believe, and they invite the viewer to imagine a new language and question its origin.