5 Contemporary Artists in Ghana | The country has produced some very contemporary and prolific artists in the field of contemporary artistry who use unique and unconventional methods in their works.

In no particular order, www.asiwomewrites.com brings you a compilation of some prolific artists who have excelled in their creative and artistic endeavors bringing Ghana to the fore of global recognition from The Culture Trip and KuulPeeps.

IBRAHIM MAHAMA

Ibrahim Mahama, born in 1987 conceives large-scale installations by stitching together old jute sacks by draping them over architectural units.

Mahama who lives in Tamale obtained his Masters in Fine Art in Painting and Sculpture in 2013 from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology – KNUST, Kumasi. He also possesses Bachelor’s in Fine Art in Painting in 2010 from the same university in Ghana.

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His work which is a monumental sculpture of stacked ‘shoeshine’ boxes, pointing to the recurring themes of national decay and collapse was showcased during the 56th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, 2015.

Mahama believes that objects, residues – stained, broken and abandoned, but bearing light – might lead us into new possibilities and spaces beyond.

SERGE ATTUKWEI CLOTTEY

Serge Attukwei Clottey, born in 1985 in Accra is known for his plastic patchwork installations, performance, charcoal portraits, photography, and sculpture. The artist interrogates personal and family narratives, as well as collective histories, and maps consumerism to trade and migration.

Clottey refers to his work as “Afrogallonism”, a concept that confronts the question of material culture through the utilization of yellow gallon containers.

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In his most recent series of wall pieces, he utilizes flattened Kuffuor gallon, jute sacks, discarded car tires, and wood pieces to form abstract formations onto which he inscribes patterns and text.

In doing so, the artist elevates the material into a powerful symbol of Ghana’s informal economic system of trade and re-use. While some surfaces resemble local textile traditions such as ‘Kente’, a key reference in west African Modernism throughout the 20th century.

BRIGHT ACKWERH

Bright Ackwerh is a believer in administering art to conceptualize possibilities, forecast future happenings, and engage society at the moment with blunt colorful counter-narratives, as opposed to the media misrepresentations.

He uses painting, illustration and street art to create solid satirical statements. His work has addressed illegal mining, police brutality, neo-colonialism, political malpractices and the deadlock that makes it difficult or unreasonably pricey for artists from Africa to collaborate with their counterparts from other continents.

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He was the 2016 recipient of Ghana’s Kuenyehia Prize for Contemporary Ghanaian Art held at the ringway estates in Accra.

He draws huge inspiration from Fela Kuti and other great African heroes as the subject of his works depict the unapologetic in relaying his messages.

PAA JOE

Paa Joe, born in Accra in 1947 is a maker of uncanny palanquins and fantasy coffins. He is one of the top 5 Contemporary Artists in Ghana. He began his career in the workshop of Ghana’s first fantasy coffin fabricator, Kane Kwei.

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Paa Joe started his own set-up in 1976 and trained several artists. His fantasy coffins are in the collections of many art museums worldwide, and he has had his work shown in parts of Europe, Japan, and the USA.

Many books and films, like ‘Paa Joe and the Lion’, have been made in tribute to his art.

KWAME AKOTO-BAMFO

Kwame Akoto-Bamfo’s installation of 1,200 concrete heads, called Faux-Reedom, depicts Ghana’s reticent ancestral echoes. The work was unveiled at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum on Ghana’s 60th Independence Day in March 2017.

The inquisition is stemmed from the reality of continuation, perseverance, and reverberation in an Africa (with focus on Ghana) where independence from colonial rule accommodates underdevelopment across the board.

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Kwame as well as specializes in fusing digital arts of graphical painting, 3D modeling, and visualization, with traditional media. When he is not creating in the studio, he spends time lecturing at various tertiary institutions.

Credit: Culture Trip and Kuulpeeps

Source: 5 Contemporary Artists in Ghana – AsiwomeWrites.Com

Talented Eastern Region-based Up and coming artists have been signed onto the maiden edition of the Kofcity We Dey project for 2019/20 have been unveiled.

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The carefully selected young musicians who have been chosen across popular genres such as high life, reggae/dancehall, gospel, and hip life were at a press briefing on Saturday, December 07, 2019, at Baca Hotel and Event Center in Koforidua unveiled to the media.

These talented up and coming musicians include Rany Dopesongz, Sean Khare, Kobby Urge, Dassebreba Kwame, Amazyn Gee, and Kobby Isaac. The rest are Nuru Shaba, Blaq Nacha Runks, Talanku, Kasiebo, and Jeffery Kwasi Boakye.

The Kofcity We Dey is a yearlong annual project with the aim of raising at least one Eastern Region based top musician with corporate influence and market appeal.

Mr. Owoahene Kwabena Acheampong who doubles as the Head of Radio at Joy Daddy Multimedia and the Project Coordinator appealed to the media present for their collective unflinching support.

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He admitted that though it is a Joy Daddy Multimedia initiative, it will take the collective effort of all to realize this dream.

“We appeal to you all for your unflinching support and media space not forgetting your endowed knowledge and creativity in modeling this project not for us but for the young talents that we want to make Eastern Region music icons,” Owoahene emphasized.

The project will also create platforms, programs, and activities for these selected young talents of which chief among is the Kofcity We Dey “Back 2 Da Hood” Jam to reach out to the various neighborhoods that these artists reside in.

The organizers promised to also strive to put these arts on other major events in and around Ghana.

The project coordinator, Mr. Acheampong reiterated the project is a new revolution that will make the unheard artists in Koforidua music icons.

Joy Daddy Multimedia in collaboration with Y & K will on December 24, 2019, under the “Kofcity We Dey” Project put up an unveiling and performance street jam to showcase the eleven 11 up and coming artists to the general public on the Central Market Street in Koforidua.

VIEW MORE PICTURES FROM THE PRESSER AND ARTISTS UNVEILING

Rhythms On Da Runway, the Year of Return Edition was characterized by glitz and glamour among great music at the Christiansborg Castle in Osu on Saturday, August 31, 2019.

The event which is the tenth in its edition is organized by the fashion icon and radio personality, Kofi Okyere Darko, popularly known in the Ghanaian showbiz circles as KOD as part of the Year of Return celebration.

KOD, who also owns Nineteen57 is originally crafted around timeless gentleman themed apparel and is a style hub for the simple yet sophisticated modern man brought together other seasoned fashion designers on the runway interlaced with Ghanaian music.

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Designers who graced Rhythms On Da Runway are Ophelia Crossland of Ophelia Crossland Designs is the wife to the ace broadcaster, KOD. Others include LUMIERE, MUDI Africa, Jesu Segun, and Palse Johannesburg.

The rest of the designers are Yartel, Velma’s, Stephapp which belongs to the former Ghanaian Black Star captain, Stephen Appiah, and Abrantie the Gentleman who paraded some Ghanaian celebrities on the runway. These celebs include Kalybos, James Gardener, Jay Foley, Jojo, Jerry Adjorlolo and Elikem Kumordzi.

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Rhythms On Da Runway also attracted great music icons including Paulina Oduro who performed a rendition of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, Cina Soul, Pat Thomas, Epixode, Trigmatic, and D’Kaybee. Other performances were from Joe Mettle, Steve Bedi the saxophone, Rex Omar, Becca and Nana Borro who was joined on stage by Obuoba J. A. Adofo and Stonebwoy who crowned it with a live performance which got patrons on their feet.

Obrafour was presented with a smock for his contribution to the music industry and Queen Asabea and Kenteman with a citation for their 45 years in promoting Ghana’s Kente, Krobo beads and wrap (Duku) and music.

Nana Asaase opened the event with a poem on mother Ghana whilst DKB came some witty jokes on the Shatta Stonebwoy beef, Rawlings and his revolution days, Stephen Appiah and others.

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Present at the Rhythms On Da Runway – The Year of Return Edition was the second lady of Ghana, Mrs. Samira Bawumia, the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi and husband Tony Oteng-Gyasi and KSM.

The event MC was Nathaniel Attoh and co-hosted by Nana Aba Anamoah with support from Ibrahim Ben-Bako, Maud and MzDru on the red carpet.