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In response to the exhibition’s theme, their collaboration explores the conversation between Ghana and two of its former colonial rulers, Britain and Denmark, over four centuries. A site-specific concept; the architecture and 450-year history of Somerset House provide the perfect foil for the project. It is an exploration of what might have been.
The exhibit will explore and manipulate; materials, space, light and textures, provoking an evolution of attitudes and ideology. Amplify will suggest an equilibrium of environmental and cultural sensitivity that resonates with the 21st century. The concept expands through and beyond creativity, forcing us to reconsider the value of conceptual and socio-economic equilibrium. Amplify holds both historic and future relevance in the West and the Global South.
Inspired by this prestigious venue, the Ghana design team has delved into Somerset House’s own history. The discoveries from which, have resulted in the decision to make Amplify a site-specific concept. In 1603 Anne of Denmark, wife of James I of England, moved to Somerset House, and it was renamed Denmark House in her honour. Once in England, she threw her energy into patronage of the arts, creating a cultural salon that attracted leading painters, writers and thinkers. In 1609, she invited Inigo Jones and other architects, to redesign and rebuild parts of the palace. The work continued until her death in 1619. She was said to be an assertive, independent and dynamic patron of the arts who constructed a magnificent court. Anne of Denmark's focus on nurturing the arts, at Somerset House, existed in a thriving socio-cultural European economy.
Chrissa Amuah is the Founder and Creative Director of AMWA Designs, an Adinkra-inspired luxury homeware and interiors brand. She is an MA graduate from the world-renowned Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London.
Chrissa has described living with a sense of duality. Although born and raised in London, her heritage stems from Ghana, Togo and Benin; but it is from Ghana that she draws most of her design inspiration. Following an international debut at Milan Design Week 2015, Chrissa has gained global recognition with press features in Elle Décor, Departures magazine and the FT’s How To Spend It, to name a few.
In 2017, she established AFRICA BY DESIGN; a concept of love intended to showcase and celebrate the best of Africa’s design talent. AFRICA BY DESIGN works to create international commercial opportunities for its featured designers. Since its launch, AFRICA BY DESIGN has exhibited in five cities across four continents. Chrissa’s passion for African design extends to her role as a Pan Afrikan Design Institute (PADI) publications committee member.
In 2017, Chrissa was also recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Black British Business Awards Consumer & Luxury Category.
In August 2020 Chrissa Amuah was announced as a member of the Allgood Collective, as a brand ambassador for sustainable footwear brand, Allbirds.
2021 will see the launch of her collection with multi-award winning, Bernhardt Design – one of America’s largest and highly acclaimed textile and furniture manufacturers.
Career highlights to date also include her collaboration with renowned architect, Alice Asafu-Adjaye, to represent Ghana for the London Biennale 2021.
Alice is the founder of Mustard, a dynamic boutique architecture studio in Accra, Ghana. She established Mustard in response to a growing demand for beautiful spaces and objects by an increasingly discerning clientele in the region.
A product of Ghanaian and British secondary education, Alice trained at Nottingham University and at The Bartlett, University College, London, before practising architecture for nearly two decades in the United Kingdom with Foster + Partners and Adjaye Associates.
Practising at Adjaye Associates for almost 12 years, Alice was instrumental in the launch of the practice’s studio in Ghana where, as Associate Director of African Projects, she managed cutting-edge projects such as Alara (Lagos, Nigeria), Hallmark House (Johannesburg, South Africa), Eugene Gasana Jr. Paediatric Cancer Centre (Kigali, Rwanda) and the IFC Headquarters (Dakar, Senegal).
Since its launch in 2015, Mustard has undertaken projects such as the rehabilitation of the historic National Museum of Ghana; private residential commissions include a villa in the Airport Hills enclave of Accra; residential developments for prolific developers such as Devtraco Plus and Equilibrium; and commercial developments for clients in the oil and gas industry such as Cross Energy, Alpha 1 Energy and Med Songhai Developers.
Alice’s passion for art and design, with a keen interest in fashion, photography, and the exploration of unfamiliar territories through travel, has led to collaborations with artists and designers in activities such as the creation of furniture collections with AMWA Designs, and the co-curation of AFRICA BY DESIGN exhibitions in Accra, Ghana in 2017 and 2019, and Cairo, Egypt in 2018.
Recognised as one of the leading architects in the region, Alice has been featured in international press including FT and Design Indaba, as well as local print press for her contribution to art, design and architecture. She maintains a role as RIBA Council member representing Middle East and Africa and retains a seat on the RIBA International Committee.
Professional memberships retained in the UK and Ghana are with RIBA and ARB (UK), GIA and ARC (Ghana).
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