IN THE MAKING: SERWAH ATTAFUAH
Serwah Attafuah is making waves. In town for her ACMI exhibition, we caught up with the multidisciplinary artist and musician and invited her to reimagine The StandardX, Melbourne through her unique vision.
What drew you to digital art as a medium and how did you first get into it?
As an artist, I started out by focusing on oil painting and music. After losing my studio space, I started playing around with other options and fell in love with the freedom of digital. It lets me build entire worlds from scratch — no rules, no limits. I just got obsessed with the idea of building characters and landscapes that felt like dreams.
Can you walk us through your creative process for these digital artworks—did you approach this project differently from other works you’ve created?
With this project, I wanted to lean into subtle surrealism — capturing real-world details from The StandardX and Fitzroy but giving them a hyperreal twist. I started by spending time with the space and absorbing textures, colors, the vibe…then let my imagination stretch those elements into mini fantasies. It felt more grounded than some of my cosmic work, but still very true to my style.
What elements of The StandardX stand out to you the most, and how did you go about translating the physical into the virtual for these pieces?
The hotel has this mix of retro glam and modern edge that I love. I was drawn to the textures, the striking facade of the building, the detail and complexity of all the different elements within the hotel. I love that it’s managed to capture the creative community vibe of the area yet has elevated it to another level. There’s a Dutch word ‘Gezellig’ that doesn’t have a direct English translation but generally means a cosy, homelike atmosphere…Although I was far away from where I live, I felt nostalgic, totally at home and ‘gezellig’ in the space. I focused on translating that feeling into something that felt true to the The StandardX, but captured in a dreamlike state.
You’re currently exhibiting at ACMI with The Darkness Between Stars. How do you hope people will interact with this work – what emotions or thoughts do you hope it sparks?
That piece is very personal — it explores themes of identity, heritage, and cosmic ancestry. I hope people feel a sense of wonder, but also a grounding in something ancient and powerful that speaks true to the history and traditions of my Ashanti community. It’s meant to feel like a portal into our complex and challenging past with hopeful visions of a future that I hope anyone – particularly those of the diaspora – can relate to.
Can you tell us more about your approach to representing women in your art? What do you hope to convey through your female avatars?
My avatars are all about archetypal feminine power, softness, and layered narrative. I love creating femme figures that feel larger than life — sometimes literally — but always rooted in strength and vulnerability. I’ve always loved focusing on portraiture, I call these characters ‘abstractions of self’: they are reflections of myself, my friends, ancestors and those yet to come. I want them to feel divine and otherworldly, yet still relatable.
Where are your go-to places when you’re in Melbourne? Do you have any favourite spots or neighbourhoods that inspire you creatively?
I actually find myself in Fitzroy and around the corner in Collingwood quite often. Playing in bands for much of my adult life, I’m often playing at the Tote, Old Bar and even pop-up DIY venues that come and go quicker than a grindcore set. The vintage shops, galleries, the people-watching; it’s always such a nice change from my hometown in Sydney. Brunswick St is a certified vibe; I walked down from the The StandardX and had some margs at Amarillo whilst visiting.There’s a creative pulse to Melbourne that’s hard to describe but easy to get lost in and I always come back home with a tonne of new, inspired energy.
Being an artist often means being on the move. What’s something you always pack when staying in hotels?
I’m an over packer, and I bring the art with me wherever I go…at least two laptops, an iPad, and a fully stocked pencil case!
