Meet Kofi Oduro | Experiential Storyteller, Creative Coder & Performative Programmer(Real TIme Multimedia )

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kofi Oduro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kofi, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I believe that all things intersect And things that are complex
Can be simplified
While things that are simple
Can be expanded
To a realm where our imagination can be planted
And sore to new depths

Due to this thinking, I believe that engaging in intentional play, exploration
and curiosity can lead us to thinking about new paths and connections.

The way I view creativity
Also lies in the way I view connectivity,
Just cause there is a creative outlet
Doesn’t mean it aint have scientific aspects or can’t have real world applications
Or simply, a reflectionary and introspective component to it

As well as the ability to weave and exchange different knowledge systems. Mediums and design concepts to see what outputs can arise from these interactions/intersections

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an award winning Experiential Storyteller, Creative Coder & Data Practitioner that transforms sounds, images, data, words & code into experiences that nurtures discussion, reflection & interaction. I create, design and research through my decade plus involvement in performance and event production.

By combining my sports & health background with technology, computational skill set and a multi-sensorial approach to design, my creative practice is an observation of the world around us that he puts into artworks & experiences for others to relate to or disagree with. Through Videography, Poetry and Creative Coding, my tries to highlight the realms of human performance and the human mind in different scenarios. These situations can be described as social, internal, or even biological, which we face in our everyday lives.

Some of the projects that have been evolve through this framework:

Multisensory Dining is a speculative design concept to enrich the dining experiences and provide a sustainable technological experience in places where food is present. This is done by using data driven experiences that are rooted in incorporating the five senses in ways that are not normally used. The methodology to bring this to realisation included but not limited to visual research, speculative design,creative coding, livecoding, semiotics, sound design, placemaking, interaction design, contextual inquiry and various blends of qualitative & quantitative research to ensure all aspects of the dining excursion is accounted for DipInCode further blends this with Mathematical Fiction, Data Analyzation, Data Visualization & Narrative design to make a realm for audience to engage with their senses.

By incorporating this in various outputs, the finding has found that by introducing the participants to extra sensory outputs to what can be considered singular sensory dominant experiences, there was more room for experimentation, exploration and play. While also providing a lower overhead for customization that did not require venues to have to increase their offering. Though rooted in experimental data and improvisational feedback as a core component, multisensory dining allows for answers to questions such as how do we bring adaptive and reactive design principles into one way experiences such as dining into an array of sensory experiences that don’t overwhelm.

Especially in 2023, DIpInCode included various performances, installations, and interactions to broaden the Synesthesia approach of DipInCode and release these thoughts,translations & interactions upon others. With the five senses and the intercultural aspect brought by globalisation in an inclusive matter. Indulging on reactive narrative to personalise experience for numerous participants in group settings without being isolated through data, design, code, technology and speculative exploration.

The Takeaway I would like for people to have when they see my work is the following:

Dynamic
Immersive
Interactie
Experimental
Playful
Energetic
Cohesively unCohesive
The play around identity and self-expression
Multi Layered narratives and storytelling of self

And of course

Poetry is Code
Poety roams
Code is all aspects of life
what elements does one want to write?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Montreal has alot of spaces that are interesting especially during the seasons. So I will try to give a random allotment of things for people to do.

Montreal has a great range of festivals to check out:

https://www.quartierdesspectacles.com/en/discover-the-quartier/festivals-and-events/

SummerTime Festivals:
https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/montreal-summer-festival-guide

Some notables are :

Jazz Festival
Oshega
Fantasia
Otakuthon
Mural Festival
Plus all of the Food Festivals

WinterTime Activies :

Snowshoeing/Cross Country Skiing is a thing that can be done within the city for some outdoor fun:

https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/where-to-go-snowshoeing-montreal

SpringTime:

Spring & Maple Syrup go together:

https://www.mtl.org/en/experience/sugar-shack-101

FallTime:

Enjoying Music & Art with Pop Montreal:

https://popmontreal.com/

Streets to Walk on :

These streets can’t go wrong with

St. Laurent
St. Catherines
Wellington
Mont Royal Parc
Any of the Parks part of the snow shoeing list
Scenic and walking paths along the Lakeshore Drive

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Partial Lis in No Order:

Primoprod
Toplap (And all the branches)/ICLC
NIL out of Mcmaster and the KI group in VCU
Creative Coding Communities such as the Birbs Nest
Experimental Tech/Art Community
Manufacturing Entertainment
Streaming Community
Creative Producers
Livecoding /Coding Language makers (SonicPi,LiveCodeLab,Seis8s,LivecodingYoutube,Foxdot,TidalCycles, Processing, Locomotion, P5js, Barbara,Graphics Inverse.website plus many more can be found)
ONM/DEL Lab
Black Tides
BCRC
Wiasporan Proverbs

And the many others that I have come by, I would like to name all of you but the list is long.

I would like to say thank you for those that have helped me on this journey

Website: https://portfolio.illestpreacha.com/links

Instagram: https://instagram.com/IllestPreacha

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IllestPreacha

Facebook: https://facebook.com/IllestPreacha

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/illestpreacha

Other: https://blog.illestpreacha.com/ https://colorscape.illestpreacha.com/colorscape
https://illestpreacha.itch.io/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11358454/