Ghanaian-British artist Godfried Donkor is set to debut his first UK institutional solo exhibition, "It’s a Numbers Game," at Firstsite in Colchester. The exhibition features a diverse array of media including collage, painting, embroidery, and installation, highlighted by a gallery transformed into a boxing ring to symbolize migration and endurance. Donkor utilizes materials like Financial Times pages and Adinkra symbols to explore the "triangle of commerce" between Britain, West Africa, and the Caribbean, while specifically linking the local history of Boudicca to the resistance of Ashanti leader Yaa Asantewaa.
This exhibition is significant as it marks a major milestone in Donkor’s career while reinforcing Firstsite’s role in hosting socially and historically inquisitive contemporary art. By juxtaposing colonial-era illustrations with modern financial data and African textiles, Donkor challenges singular historical narratives and examines how global economic systems continue to shape identity and power. The show serves as a critical bridge between local Essex history and international imperial legacies, offering a timely reconsideration of British history through a global lens.