Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne collects unique fabrics that contain intricately woven patterns and sews them onto his mixed-media works. Mayne then paints detailed colorful elements on top of the sewn fabrics with acrylic paint to create the multi-layered works. The picture themes range from floral patterns to depictions of young adults and children posing nonchalantly wearing bold, colorful designs, often juxtaposed with bright monochrome backgrounds. The themes of his works are a mix of Mayne’s childhood memories and current social topics.
WE US I, Mayne's first solo exhibition in Finland, is a kind of appreciation for his loved ones and himself - in a world that revolves around abundance and consumption, things that really matter take the center stage. The paintings by Mayne are usually characterized by the subject being presented floating in the picture space, which brings added focus on the characters themselves, but his new exhibition also presents works that ground the subjects in interior surroundings and living rooms. The anonymous and faceless characters create certain sense of universality; the viewer can decide who the subject of a painting is.
Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne currently lives and works in Cologne, Germany. The interest towards clothing and fabrics stems from his childhood home. Mayne studied at Ghanatta College of Art and Design from where he graduated in 2004. He has shown in both solo and group exhibitions in North America and Europe.
