EL Loko’s Cosmic Letters, the universal alphabet from which he composes large-format works, unite the various philosophies of his spiritual ‘cosmos’. Loko’s unique pictorial language is derived from an ongoing, intensive contemplation of the traditions of his native Togo and the numerous ‘worlds’ that have shaped his psyche. Influenced by European Christian theology and tribal legends of African mythology present in the collective memory of Africa, the hybrid nature of Loko’s primeval depictions, so-called ‘sunbirds’, are homage to his desire for cultural universality.

Loko has been deeply influenced by European artists, most notably his teacher and mentor Joseph Beuys. Today, Loko works in a range of media, from painting, printmaking, and photography to wider explorations in installation, performance, and poetry.