Ekow Nimako
Toronto, Ontario
Studio: How would you describe your approach to your medium? What made you choose it?
Ekow Nimako: I’m fortunate in that LEGO is an extraordinarily versatile and technically diverse material. I engage with it on so many levels: through creative play, repurposing of elements, even applying concepts of engineering and design without knowing they’re concepts of engineering and design. I’ve used LEGO to build since I was 4 years old and it never fails to challenge me and keep me curious.
S: How would you describe yourself, personally and professionally?
EN: I describe myself as an artist. An afrofuturist and an african futurist. A sculptor and a Lego artist. A writer, a musician, a father and a husband. I’m very much a Leo too, so I have a penchant for grand gestures, generosity, warmth, and boldness.
S: What inspires you?
EN: I’m most inspired by science fiction and fantasy, other-worldliness and whimsical phenomena captivate me. Black consciousness and culture are essential. Children are also often at the centre of my artistic narratives because I truly value the potential we cultivate and intuit as children. I often feel connected to my younger self in an astral sense, perhaps because I manifested the daydreams of what I would become. Past and future working in tandem somehow to weave my purpose.
S: What do you see as your contribution to the field of your craft, your legacy?
EN: My daughters most certainly are my greatest legacy, though I think it is my unique fusion of Black focused narratives and LEGO that will make the ultimate mark in the world of art and popular culture. I’m doing something no one else has done, and I want to see young people I inspire doing the same.
S: What wisdom do you want to impart to younger makers?
EN: Stay curious and compassionate about the world, and keep building.
Ekow Nimako
w: ekownimako.com
ig: @ekownimako
This article was published in the Spring/Summer 2022 issue of Studio Magazine.
