Artist Statement
Paul Bonokollie’s art is an exploration into the vast inner worlds of the eternal soul. Expressing the potential of every human being to reach liberation, self-realization, and enlightenment using art as a means to relieve the suffering of all life. Paul leads his artistic practice with a heart of sincerity, bringing together a diverse array of mediums to create intimate and immersive environments for the audience to enter into finding treasures of wisdom, beauty, and connection that create a lasting transformation. Paul's first solo exhibition "Astral Atlas" shown at C33 Gallery in 2023 did just that. This exhibition featured the projection of a hour long film similarly titled Astral Atlas filled with Paul's original music and performance with an overlay of blooming flowers, dancing, psychedelic visuals and more, creating the perfect ambiance to explore the art and for the meditation and tea ceremony during the closing ceremony. Paul’s photographs document his journey in April 2022, to Liberia, Africa, showing the loving embrace of family, the beauty of the country and its culture, as well as detailing the ongoing effects of climate change, political conflict and the continuous exploitation of the land and people of the nation. Paul’s art is centered in compassion and as the founder of the non-profit Bonokollie Foundation Inc; Paul seeks to raise awareness for the struggling communities in Liberia, build a bridge of support and positive cultural exchange, as well as inspire all people towards more mindful and sustainable ways of living. There is an ever-present theme of mysticism in Paul’s work pulling from indigenous traditions and religions from around the world, as well his own personal experiences, like those told of in his handmade poetry book titled "Resurrection". As the lover longs for the embrace of the beloved, the seeker strives for unity with the ultimate reality; the meditative engagement that emerges when face to face with Paul’s artwork becomes the medium for this internal journey, a guide for the sympathetic audience, and the goal reached. An expression of clarity, bliss, and universal love.