Open Dreams is so excited to announce our three new Liu Shiming Art Scholarship Winners for 2025. A huge congratulations goes out to Victoria Akpene Ocloo from Ghana, Asanda Mbotho Gasa from South Africa, and Ndeh Mourine from Cameroon for winning $3000 USD each to continue their studies in the arts.
We are so grateful to the Liu Shiming Art Foundation for trusting Open Dreams to find these tremendous artists from across Africa. We are thrilled that they will be able to use these funds to continue their studies in the Arts! Learn more about Victoria, Asanda, and Mourine below!
Victoria Akpene Ocloo - Ghana
Victoria is an incredible artist from Ghana. She is using the funds to pursue her Masters in Painting, Sculpture and Curating at the prestigious Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where we already have many Open Dreams scholars from Cameroon also studying. Victoria’s unique approach to art centers around her use of human skin. In her own words - “I view the human skin as both a living and a compelling medium for artistic expression. My practice is an introspective exploration of the human condition, I combine painting, printmaking, and digital manipulation. My use of human skin as a medium for artistic expression is a deliberate subversion of traditional representations of identity. By capturing the layers of
memory and history embedded in skin, the resulting designs are subsequently translated into screen prints, a technique that enables me to transpose these images onto a variety of materials, from canvas to fabric. The human skin carries layers of memory and history, making it an organic archive. This process of transferring skin into patterns embodies a tactile relationship with my subjects, creating a deeply personal and intimate portraiture that extends beyond the visual. I see these printouts as portraits that become a narrative of self and society, built from repeated motifs that draw on the viewer to complete the story.”
“For me art is more than paintings and sculptures; there’s something powerful in the experience of art that makes it special. Art goes beyond capitalism, communism and socialism. Art has this incredible way of bridging time, space and bodies together. Art is the only thing that is liberating. For me, art challenges perceptions; it encourages us to look deeper, to see things from new angles, and also to question our assumptions. That is what art has been; every piece of art has its own energy and speaks to different parts of life and everything we think we know.”
Find out more about Victoria and follow her work on instagram here.
Asanda Mbotho Gasa - South Africa
Asanda Gasa is a remarkable performing artist from South Africa. She is using the funds to continue her Advanced Studies at the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa. She loves how theatre allows her to be anyone she wants and to embody the lives of other people to tell a story that makes deep connections with the audience.
“As a theatre performer, I love how art allows us to explore the depths of human emotion and tell stories that resonate across time and cultures. Theatre, in particular, is a living, breathing art form that creates a shared experience between the audience and the performers. I love the immediacy of the connection, and the vulnerability required to step into another's shoes, to express truth through fiction. My type of art fosters empathy, challenges perspectives, and sparks important conversations, making it not just entertainment but a powerful tool for change and personal growth. What I love about art, especially theatre, is its ability to transform both the performer and the audience. Theatre is a dynamic, collaborative medium that brings stories to life in real time, allowing us to experience different worlds, perspectives, and emotions together.”
“I intend to use my artwork to improve my community and the world by creating theatre that amplifies underrepresented voices and addresses social issues that need urgent attention. Theatre has the unique ability to foster empathy by allowing audiences to experience life from diverse perspectives. I plan to craft performances that highlight issues such as inequality, mental health, and gender-based violence, using storytelling to spark important conversations and inspire positive change.”
Ndeh Mourine - Cameroon
Ndeh Mourine is one of the prominent artists within the Open Dreams community in Cameroon. She is pursuing her degree in Performing and Visual Arts at the University of Bamenda. She excels at pencil art where she has drawn excellent portraits of Open Dreams community members like our Co-Founder Hans Kullberg, our incredible leader Sir Akaba James, and our inspiring Open Dreams Program Leader in charge of Outreach and Engagement, Sir Emmauel Ngolefac.
“Art makes me who I am. It is the most beautiful and easiest language that I use to communicate information and tell stories without getting to use words. Art has the ability that enables me to express feelings and emotions with paint brushes and paint through canvas. My love for creativity inspires my liking for art. Sitting and holding painting brushes in the middle of the night, with paint and canvas set right before me, keeps me thinking of creating something new. As people and technology advance in everyday life, so does painting; it helps me to see the world in a new and different perspective. “
Ndeh Mourine displays her works of art while holding a beautiful portrait of Open Dreams co-founder, Hans Kullberg
The Liu Shiming Art Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2021, that provide scholarships, grants, and exchange opportunities to cultivate and grow a global arts discourse that recognizes our common humanity, as Liu Shiming did through his art and his life. This is the second year Open Dreams is implementing the program in Africa, as a partner fo the Liu Shiming Art Foundation.
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