Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne (Ghana) | Purple Chair, 2019 | African wax print and acrylic on canvas, 205 x 162

RAPHAEL ADJETEY ADJEI MAYNE  (b. 1983, Ghana)

Raphael Adjetey Adjei Mayne, also known as RAAM, is a talented Ghanaian artist currently living in Germany.

The faceless and nameless figures in Mayne's works direct the viewer's attention to their physiognomy and gestures. In the Faceless series, Mayne encourages observers to imagine the identity of anonymous figures, to contemplate the person beyond the external skeleton, and to ponder deeper meanings of human existence. As the artist himself states: "I leave it to the viewer to imagine who this person is or could be."

Ghanaian culture is known for its diverse and colorful textile traditions. Mayne recalls how his mother used to sew her clothes from traditional fabrics, and for the children, she would make matching outfits from fabric remnants. In his unique artworks, Mayne combines traditional African textiles, collected from the coastal regions of Ghana, with modern aesthetics. The characters come to life through the layering of colorful fabric scraps and acrylic paints.

In his works, Mayne incorporates Adinkra symbols – traditional symbolic language used in Ivory Coast and Ghana – patterns, and symbols. These symbols are often handwoven, embroidered, or printed and carry profound philosophical significance, serving to remind viewers of Ghana's cultural heritage and the craftsmanship of textile artisans.