tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29337988278336903282024-02-06T20:01:08.370-08:00Ghanaian Art (Ahudee)Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-14824004390755211012012-01-19T00:32:00.000-08:002012-02-01T09:06:32.755-08:00A Quote of the Day for you!<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" id="twttrHubFrame" name="twttrHubFrame" scrolling="no" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets/hub.1326407570.html" style="height: 10px; position: absolute; top: -9999em; width: 10px;" tabindex="0"></iframe> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">The history of art is the history of revivals. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/s/samuelbutl161068.html"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: Calibri;">Samuel Butler</span></span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The essence of all art is to have pleasure in giving pleasure.</span><span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> <br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/d/dalecarneg119289.html"><span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: x-small; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Dale Carnegie</span></a> </span></span><br />
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Have a brilliant day.Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-78647130005304284192012-01-01T09:58:00.000-08:002012-01-01T09:58:08.650-08:00Nii Tekio - New Works - Dec 2011Nii Tekio is a male artist from Accra in his 30's. He has two ways of working : painting the 'normal' realistic picture and painting with strokes of colour. The latter style continues to amaze me; because seeing them face to face it amazes you how a person can use strokes of colour to make a scene so visible and very relalistic. He paints scences of things he sees especially in Accra, Ghana. He also paints portraits (an can be comissioned to do so) which are brilliant.<br />
He works with acrylics on canvas.<br />
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I once asked him how is came about painting with strokes of colour and he replied by saying: <br />
'One day I was watching the rain fall, and as you know it falls in strokes and then the idea just came to me.' God-given perhaps? It will be easy to say so. His works are even more impressive in real life than in a picture format. <br />
He has many fans around the world and has exhibitied many times in Ghana and in Washington, USA, with great success.<br />
He is a family man, quite too; but his actions show his bolder inner strength.<br />
I will be getting a full interview with the man soon, and sharing it with you. :) <br />
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Here are some pictures of recent paintings by Nii Tekio:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9xmuI4tlcXydw5SyLS5ShorsYfeEqRbxhyphenhyphenPBZx5jouO-8QCUVw7E3rLapXsiMesQqRiFpsH_2n_uQicCoKrsEizbrkBPlmqCKaPcDIiSEgSXVxhnFHmfBJpUrqT8Zy8F8nu7Y5HuH42k/s1600/area+arrival.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9xmuI4tlcXydw5SyLS5ShorsYfeEqRbxhyphenhyphenPBZx5jouO-8QCUVw7E3rLapXsiMesQqRiFpsH_2n_uQicCoKrsEizbrkBPlmqCKaPcDIiSEgSXVxhnFHmfBJpUrqT8Zy8F8nu7Y5HuH42k/s400/area+arrival.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Area Arrival, 36"x26"<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAa8zao7J9AyJxtpRjEFrneQqueTDGNgBaqZWirXrqzloVtc57JhFlPv8KX0LU8hiiqEfA1phrwKevAylxKI9FpItVWQx4RU_JKqe48Bt8OTz4zECnkBxlkRDD62NtMBsOlMF3huHZFt0/s1600/message+from+the+horn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAa8zao7J9AyJxtpRjEFrneQqueTDGNgBaqZWirXrqzloVtc57JhFlPv8KX0LU8hiiqEfA1phrwKevAylxKI9FpItVWQx4RU_JKqe48Bt8OTz4zECnkBxlkRDD62NtMBsOlMF3huHZFt0/s400/message+from+the+horn.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Message from the Horn 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hHLMX6PDxKTrff33qCt0I1h99l8YAgKoLzCUcI7bslckpuxadJnUeMtbCuSkDaNXuhYebkbHaJ7PZkJS9aX93qjCXFGk7H-6KiqZF8aRh86AfPaKhXm9a_ZCASTVkQj9ZoeiGbCifdDm/s1600/calling+for+a+message.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6hHLMX6PDxKTrff33qCt0I1h99l8YAgKoLzCUcI7bslckpuxadJnUeMtbCuSkDaNXuhYebkbHaJ7PZkJS9aX93qjCXFGk7H-6KiqZF8aRh86AfPaKhXm9a_ZCASTVkQj9ZoeiGbCifdDm/s400/calling+for+a+message.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calling for a Message 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TMxv-FLNZwQ2EeZ7_xyis93PQBhxzluv0Rlc8mmKJ6wo1-BUvQQBljKDPrS68mYAw8jt16EzfcfAM8ye4x0qWw_YAes_4RoCqGS0MUaNSS8CksmubeL7vw34vKR2MGo_A93DOWX_RGhp/s1600/daily+bread.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TMxv-FLNZwQ2EeZ7_xyis93PQBhxzluv0Rlc8mmKJ6wo1-BUvQQBljKDPrS68mYAw8jt16EzfcfAM8ye4x0qWw_YAes_4RoCqGS0MUaNSS8CksmubeL7vw34vKR2MGo_A93DOWX_RGhp/s400/daily+bread.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daily Bread 40"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNsxws21GXz1YsLchhhBUi9g8LpNEfvwXTxZ4pkY7PQbOSbZJkSGrXtDaHFDeRVqL5Z5q69IRbWjTTPq9qzrBkOcFF2hZ7YQn_8e7ZLJ58_KYDKh5abhvv9y8BRfzKf2L6_1vEMoyP_9l/s1600/day+by+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNsxws21GXz1YsLchhhBUi9g8LpNEfvwXTxZ4pkY7PQbOSbZJkSGrXtDaHFDeRVqL5Z5q69IRbWjTTPq9qzrBkOcFF2hZ7YQn_8e7ZLJ58_KYDKh5abhvv9y8BRfzKf2L6_1vEMoyP_9l/s400/day+by+day.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day by Day 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbiedeTWx1B6ppSGBrY-IyMT_JmjivF8FHkmnEaBgMjNLzaosqmQ6aChT926ydLbvQwU1Cq2cWQPoybOpSGcddek3XaArfhlHaaurpVBYnU-hnZmELk_meO34tGFeCwd1DMVvq2Me1nSK/s1600/eye+of+God.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbiedeTWx1B6ppSGBrY-IyMT_JmjivF8FHkmnEaBgMjNLzaosqmQ6aChT926ydLbvQwU1Cq2cWQPoybOpSGcddek3XaArfhlHaaurpVBYnU-hnZmELk_meO34tGFeCwd1DMVvq2Me1nSK/s400/eye+of+God.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eye of God 30"x30"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXcLGDRc2zr1WgEZ58o9aIyIsVjjlmgpOEEY1YLQ3iVvZk4RmQx-gKBXAc751bHbtU5odUg1PBgtHPD7t5iYvqGCqH1V4zW5T64w65lpkIu1Ye7mTJzdBx-UZN6q_U-xNCXV5OeANHoo6/s1600/Fishermen+eye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXcLGDRc2zr1WgEZ58o9aIyIsVjjlmgpOEEY1YLQ3iVvZk4RmQx-gKBXAc751bHbtU5odUg1PBgtHPD7t5iYvqGCqH1V4zW5T64w65lpkIu1Ye7mTJzdBx-UZN6q_U-xNCXV5OeANHoo6/s400/Fishermen+eye.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishermen Eye 40"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2lHfgkk_yJkuVKcpEhPXwvrpaka-x7qg8SrUT5PgzNyPx_JTO4V92bL2e_QciWylEc5x1MMpUd3zk2YRaR3XweMpCYmMATr4RnZVvbPK-LFXlaGveuGCG_09UZtg11rlEFBit3uGaWVD/s1600/legendary.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2lHfgkk_yJkuVKcpEhPXwvrpaka-x7qg8SrUT5PgzNyPx_JTO4V92bL2e_QciWylEc5x1MMpUd3zk2YRaR3XweMpCYmMATr4RnZVvbPK-LFXlaGveuGCG_09UZtg11rlEFBit3uGaWVD/s400/legendary.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Legendary 40" x 50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLykaUsRNZHxVcdD8Fn8U1lreOTka3BAbNj5m2x-XIdRCvoO5xX6bkSY-BeMahb-Zy5ZlsWNVD_TtubVV6rOaYgRY4X1q9q22JJabXoHuekBXQO7hyphenhyphenAtEWt4xHTexHHkOvjFUEdeNAmX0g/s1600/market+day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLykaUsRNZHxVcdD8Fn8U1lreOTka3BAbNj5m2x-XIdRCvoO5xX6bkSY-BeMahb-Zy5ZlsWNVD_TtubVV6rOaYgRY4X1q9q22JJabXoHuekBXQO7hyphenhyphenAtEWt4xHTexHHkOvjFUEdeNAmX0g/s400/market+day.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market Day 40"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uoeJ1rUqnvlJzr6eU7elhhkDl8qizzjO6hPse1WYGHajafK_2ziagLwD3s3ZEepVnh0tgbiZbm9G1j2atFZkyVTZsTDz6VtcjItxnUyPtTmY40TDzuP5EDY-wktRyuKUKbVYPGtV-LqO/s1600/market+women.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5uoeJ1rUqnvlJzr6eU7elhhkDl8qizzjO6hPse1WYGHajafK_2ziagLwD3s3ZEepVnh0tgbiZbm9G1j2atFZkyVTZsTDz6VtcjItxnUyPtTmY40TDzuP5EDY-wktRyuKUKbVYPGtV-LqO/s400/market+women.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Market Women 36" x 26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLTSnLP2OeqLzYPHIJ23eZ3ZHL8MLLJqwcDnlxtGvcQwa4aaCfZej35sMrDlNi8XlKRKuaxQY-FLsbMmITRq5UROQhZEyM2fXXRPdaRY_5Jxueb1Ed-h4GbI03wt5XaDg6Ibd0we7QiD-/s1600/message+from+the+tune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuLTSnLP2OeqLzYPHIJ23eZ3ZHL8MLLJqwcDnlxtGvcQwa4aaCfZej35sMrDlNi8XlKRKuaxQY-FLsbMmITRq5UROQhZEyM2fXXRPdaRY_5Jxueb1Ed-h4GbI03wt5XaDg6Ibd0we7QiD-/s400/message+from+the+tune.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Message from the Tune 50"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvDKuLDWdmNa50T9-2BOm6a8o7dSGd_SMbpxGOV7AKEKmPVVZ8C3StZv9s6_Wvrok-HVR1neLdAjWmf3NXnYhYyVsCkdTJZ7MIfLBAbD0lVF-KydistGmvmjDRpFv5Xg83iRtqWV9KAmP/s1600/once+a+kid+alway+a+kid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvDKuLDWdmNa50T9-2BOm6a8o7dSGd_SMbpxGOV7AKEKmPVVZ8C3StZv9s6_Wvrok-HVR1neLdAjWmf3NXnYhYyVsCkdTJZ7MIfLBAbD0lVF-KydistGmvmjDRpFv5Xg83iRtqWV9KAmP/s400/once+a+kid+alway+a+kid.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once a kid always a Kid 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDqh4-IOpm0AAT8sVUGkEZs6KWU0OVAJcOobzn-6OGrNa7RcGgGcvnVJxq8XT3pv6yDJzYcYt0VRzWUm3tmc5L5Ls-DcvXMwC3YOJ56CLDqeNVnSmbB1CiiZ-PXazxCG4qM1uXpuZPCWI/s1600/porrait+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDqh4-IOpm0AAT8sVUGkEZs6KWU0OVAJcOobzn-6OGrNa7RcGgGcvnVJxq8XT3pv6yDJzYcYt0VRzWUm3tmc5L5Ls-DcvXMwC3YOJ56CLDqeNVnSmbB1CiiZ-PXazxCG4qM1uXpuZPCWI/s320/porrait+7.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait 7 30"x20"<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFys5D9jiCMfOk5kBHeqGIKGIxIFZyLt1xqeVl8QKC4vpoerTBe3logqYceUI7jSWTaxVV9l6r9D0VhgiZZUZnJ4JUsjmvbXcNPBBDR3I1qIwGairgrYVyhLMAqokwQVXOilpAaOByPAAy/s1600/porrait+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFys5D9jiCMfOk5kBHeqGIKGIxIFZyLt1xqeVl8QKC4vpoerTBe3logqYceUI7jSWTaxVV9l6r9D0VhgiZZUZnJ4JUsjmvbXcNPBBDR3I1qIwGairgrYVyhLMAqokwQVXOilpAaOByPAAy/s400/porrait+7.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait 5 30"x 20"</td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF0LudaPOnsMjTS1LZUV5YpcH3ufpcgSFnkcotqUMNhXidHYfI1KyATExZjhRBPKJiIHbf7GoeqZ_R8bhnTU1T3UD8ulcaparSt6JfODl-mJh4RVT6Tzxh0YOBNb6iCki1vEXcKKmAm41/s1600/rainn+dey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOF0LudaPOnsMjTS1LZUV5YpcH3ufpcgSFnkcotqUMNhXidHYfI1KyATExZjhRBPKJiIHbf7GoeqZ_R8bhnTU1T3UD8ulcaparSt6JfODl-mJh4RVT6Tzxh0YOBNb6iCki1vEXcKKmAm41/s400/rainn+dey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rain Dey 40"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJAm5wlbfsyZZLGSNomwDxiXogvmZgq3tmSOmvn6R8y0cyFsd2qUYHOuFO_rJjtqJg0o6m7W9sVGlBGAY_kuVIl5l_5AzaqUFrXfJKgbk3oehCmkH0EWgKrHHD9bLxUzxBjxZPZEgpfMQ/s1600/street+market.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJAm5wlbfsyZZLGSNomwDxiXogvmZgq3tmSOmvn6R8y0cyFsd2qUYHOuFO_rJjtqJg0o6m7W9sVGlBGAY_kuVIl5l_5AzaqUFrXfJKgbk3oehCmkH0EWgKrHHD9bLxUzxBjxZPZEgpfMQ/s400/street+market.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Market 36" x 26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CZCiZmchJIjAG48ripVTWP7zUsYhfneaWSfbJxHJ7bkIgoshyIIREdnUvwOZ80dOLYdx6lOVDOE25zwK-cG8BBIpEQ0-U_hsXGtub6_FZPRczSGb826CEFM0FjRZm0IOeUYES-zKlOA3/s1600/the+dancer.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CZCiZmchJIjAG48ripVTWP7zUsYhfneaWSfbJxHJ7bkIgoshyIIREdnUvwOZ80dOLYdx6lOVDOE25zwK-cG8BBIpEQ0-U_hsXGtub6_FZPRczSGb826CEFM0FjRZm0IOeUYES-zKlOA3/s400/the+dancer.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street Dancer 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAip6v26bIjffo2avZpU2iWQ6-gOdhoMMEHI5_Hq3AKtBKXAXOcDgqWyDY9_HvSWTbUiFqqi1Jcp2aGspe1iVF0cr7ajyfpjQ1WQeola50AWbEn72zq1cU0pHM7b8Ia3BGwwngU4F-MmKV/s1600/town+scape.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAip6v26bIjffo2avZpU2iWQ6-gOdhoMMEHI5_Hq3AKtBKXAXOcDgqWyDY9_HvSWTbUiFqqi1Jcp2aGspe1iVF0cr7ajyfpjQ1WQeola50AWbEn72zq1cU0pHM7b8Ia3BGwwngU4F-MmKV/s400/town+scape.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Townscape 36"x 26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuFhvwttWFLRMzHc700aBS1_23y8TAvm9JUJkOEFLhPH3hZiUKzjbBluIutfK8c0QoxY1ZpvdB5Oan1tmVWOOm-iG0rkzzVH5qu17EFovAxNWqPKMxx4hyDSvdUhJKcK3NuvciCX1vJU4/s1600/two+heads+are+better+than+one.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJuFhvwttWFLRMzHc700aBS1_23y8TAvm9JUJkOEFLhPH3hZiUKzjbBluIutfK8c0QoxY1ZpvdB5Oan1tmVWOOm-iG0rkzzVH5qu17EFovAxNWqPKMxx4hyDSvdUhJKcK3NuvciCX1vJU4/s400/two+heads+are+better+than+one.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two heads are better than One. 26"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugPBXCc4ToDoZXIzzxJ6Ys_5B-rV84reksxk0hPoCYzk_I_8jZw8zQ5i1hX5YvG-C-ZCKCyXEu7veRt3H7L9bJfONNVPgbFWlu_MlRRdOacFH5GugTV2-f4GgCn9qjoBeqfCTSLkMeCRt/s1600/we+will+get+there.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugPBXCc4ToDoZXIzzxJ6Ys_5B-rV84reksxk0hPoCYzk_I_8jZw8zQ5i1hX5YvG-C-ZCKCyXEu7veRt3H7L9bJfONNVPgbFWlu_MlRRdOacFH5GugTV2-f4GgCn9qjoBeqfCTSLkMeCRt/s400/we+will+get+there.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We will get there. 35"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRFzgijJMVWxmJ2N170cEJLUc7_O_0lKLUHAZs3riLGQZ7Ofz9MjCE4Tb9ZeAisXUiDUMrjHRT_pQFFxv75Km-ZxpAbAq-iJJMM50iBNas47G-bZ3e0yQ7EzV5zRCGrSaUVIhUK6jAw_n/s1600/women+pride.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRFzgijJMVWxmJ2N170cEJLUc7_O_0lKLUHAZs3riLGQZ7Ofz9MjCE4Tb9ZeAisXUiDUMrjHRT_pQFFxv75Km-ZxpAbAq-iJJMM50iBNas47G-bZ3e0yQ7EzV5zRCGrSaUVIhUK6jAw_n/s400/women+pride.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Women Pride 36"x26"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8E1OxLX5gpuoS-MktjREt8V51UPFEAGqz4AeQaIxcI4KzkkW4409aUYHVOG8uxpKr8oLX4ii0OCxQyT2YJmZkDSrdJjATTy6TrcAFsqCwXWkG79Cu3zS_3kwODFuaLaDJssYb6dNUs6v/s1600/faces+of+africa+40by50%253D%2524800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz8E1OxLX5gpuoS-MktjREt8V51UPFEAGqz4AeQaIxcI4KzkkW4409aUYHVOG8uxpKr8oLX4ii0OCxQyT2YJmZkDSrdJjATTy6TrcAFsqCwXWkG79Cu3zS_3kwODFuaLaDJssYb6dNUs6v/s400/faces+of+africa+40by50%253D%2524800.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Faces of Africa 40"x50"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigahUkqVW-_3g-_gq4EO9mqPz1jOpsoyCpg8Xt-nJ-MlGKHKFlq12KOGH8Mlgz5Jhd5tIaxfK-DDSQAhfg1bZxyLgW69KqGqP8vnFqH6HXPepcvweKcu5LUgyHinNqN9e8-S5vsTlbCSXw/s1600/portrait+6+30by20%253D%2524300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigahUkqVW-_3g-_gq4EO9mqPz1jOpsoyCpg8Xt-nJ-MlGKHKFlq12KOGH8Mlgz5Jhd5tIaxfK-DDSQAhfg1bZxyLgW69KqGqP8vnFqH6HXPepcvweKcu5LUgyHinNqN9e8-S5vsTlbCSXw/s400/portrait+6+30by20%253D%2524300.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait 6 30"x 20"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDp_XFzl4YjXGM3VTejxd3cR0xuvLdMwzI-AVNPx8JpuB786NtFcu4lwGR03vWL_dwSox9SWVzupICMpZ4JGLZTA7RuPwrsuDp_0kPhl2zmYkR0HeOC81T9w8ertAox8c99A60HQThIog4/s1600/portrait+11+30by20%253D%2524300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDp_XFzl4YjXGM3VTejxd3cR0xuvLdMwzI-AVNPx8JpuB786NtFcu4lwGR03vWL_dwSox9SWVzupICMpZ4JGLZTA7RuPwrsuDp_0kPhl2zmYkR0HeOC81T9w8ertAox8c99A60HQThIog4/s400/portrait+11+30by20%253D%2524300.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait 11 30"x20"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1JvzuypsMfXPIX2LOlRBH5pnwJMD8xGvrFo2r4BKTPv_mv_CkCk06NxsHBHTABjqSRSzXxwtZ6Kz-4aIRJpwjUAC6fPIJZP92UGgabTLcdaOtnoJ1jcmx-1q_m9HR5_lUIdzwUiXMDKd/s1600/mother+africa+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC1JvzuypsMfXPIX2LOlRBH5pnwJMD8xGvrFo2r4BKTPv_mv_CkCk06NxsHBHTABjqSRSzXxwtZ6Kz-4aIRJpwjUAC6fPIJZP92UGgabTLcdaOtnoJ1jcmx-1q_m9HR5_lUIdzwUiXMDKd/s400/mother+africa+1.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Africa 1 30"x30"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgily332HN2YvLmv8nyvzhO52_Q9vfqC45xSR5eu8LU1pPsqFjoru8FXYQnDV8gTOFtHZQMw3M24d_VBZ0SU6qLgDcGiKUB4Y_H90fy0-guTsKlA_MUj4uc5Da1YJkaMxF0fCjOhyphenhyphenVZBx14/s1600/mother+africa+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgily332HN2YvLmv8nyvzhO52_Q9vfqC45xSR5eu8LU1pPsqFjoru8FXYQnDV8gTOFtHZQMw3M24d_VBZ0SU6qLgDcGiKUB4Y_H90fy0-guTsKlA_MUj4uc5Da1YJkaMxF0fCjOhyphenhyphenVZBx14/s400/mother+africa+2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother Africa 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnb7lUEt_x-aVG28V8v9n3UsC44k0I70kzWL-2bRug50PTTQLAptDBv7efIE99Ek3nXRPrkdjr5y5IG0VN4gRBpzWOg8lwg7G66Hdy1SmF-qc5zDy_5tLGqGV3TMnn8AugZi_5qG7IJnG/s1600/mother%2527s+sweat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHnb7lUEt_x-aVG28V8v9n3UsC44k0I70kzWL-2bRug50PTTQLAptDBv7efIE99Ek3nXRPrkdjr5y5IG0VN4gRBpzWOg8lwg7G66Hdy1SmF-qc5zDy_5tLGqGV3TMnn8AugZi_5qG7IJnG/s400/mother%2527s+sweat.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mother's Sweat 36" x 26"<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n3CRlZ6kSu27o5f9DhsQw8Xjz37wAGkgck5d9-eH1rOC7tbO78nI3m8aNHE0iRy1RZP6ZPdcgKeEJLINRoUck6KlpUsHOrOXIkVF6KOqV30kGc8hKrn1APfwv1PAMYCRRO9iXvGNI6pQ/s1600/preparing+night+mash.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n3CRlZ6kSu27o5f9DhsQw8Xjz37wAGkgck5d9-eH1rOC7tbO78nI3m8aNHE0iRy1RZP6ZPdcgKeEJLINRoUck6KlpUsHOrOXIkVF6KOqV30kGc8hKrn1APfwv1PAMYCRRO9iXvGNI6pQ/s400/preparing+night+mash.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Preparing Night Mash 40"x50"<br />
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</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-6324026793414981712011-09-26T11:51:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:51:00.824-07:00Ofei Darko, one of Ghana's best artists, like the other artists I talk about in this Blog. Painter & Sculptor. 'Adoley' his wife, is also a fine artist.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zJxItN2jHYbAWtqJZab2xxT8r41xTR2MJssYTJ3egpIk39gHXRMHcKzzDjE_9EBO9lVb76WGvHxE5Oh5TcMzHPZkslXq6M2juC-cuTkxKCW74RnmUTB5b9aq2z_Tnf-qOMpMCz06FeYz/s1600/OfeiD-mainpic.+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zJxItN2jHYbAWtqJZab2xxT8r41xTR2MJssYTJ3egpIk39gHXRMHcKzzDjE_9EBO9lVb76WGvHxE5Oh5TcMzHPZkslXq6M2juC-cuTkxKCW74RnmUTB5b9aq2z_Tnf-qOMpMCz06FeYz/s640/OfeiD-mainpic.+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meditiation II, 2006, Acrylic on Canvas</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">His work on meditation is of faces, which are painted like masks, African Masks. Meditation the second already suggests there is a first prior to this one; at times it is a painting of great similarity and the painter has an expression in mind which he had not completed on one canvas so had to complete it on another. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Meditation II is a work of simplicity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have in the foreground the eight faces and in the background Adinkra Signs (Ghanaian symbols; each one has an individual meaning). Ofei Darko as an artist stated he wanted to do something different and his intuition led him to faces. According to Darko, in Africa we communicate through masks be it for masquerade/ festivals, a representation of a god, a theme or simply used for decoration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there are many faces to represent the unity Darko hopes for all of Africa being a follower of Nkrumah’s ideology. All the eight faces are in some way attached to the other next to it and from the second on the left to the end one, a curved line sweeps up from the lip of the face to create a line of composition of a forehead for the other 6 heads in the painting. The eye of the third head becomes the cheekbone and other eye of the forth head. And from the left eye of the forth head the dimensions of the sixth head is created. The curved lines which appear all over the painting, lets the viewer take in the faces as one before you later begin to divide them. It certainly signifies the impression of unity Darko wanted to create.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The other lines found on these faces are like those of so-called scarification lines, placed in certain parts of the face to accentuate the dimensions of the face like in sculpture. But in human faces it is to expose the beauty of definition on a human face. For example on the first face from the left on the forehead Darko paints four curved lines and as it in brown, a dark colour, it helps the artist to define the curve of a forehead; similar lines can be seen on the forehead on the cheekbone of the second face again reminding the viewer of the roundness of the cheekbone. Ofei Darko again uses three lines on the first face (on the left), just below the nose to create a separation between the nose and lips as well as shadow; because on a human face from the nose there is a drop before the lips poke out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">On the third face the lines are clearly used on the side of the face to indicate the sharpness but also a little depth to the face. When ones eyes wander to the heads of these faces, the lines help create an abstract type definition for the tops of the heads (of the faces). The heads seem a little open and it swirls a bit like the meditative mood that leaves the head and takes one to a higher level. These lines originate from the so –called scarification lines once cut into human faces and bodies with a variation of designs. Its significance was to accentuate the face and make it even more beautiful than ever. The designs of scarification have become decorations on sculpture and even print designs of batik fabrics. The practice of scarification can be found all over Africa at times body paint was also used to create these designs as a form of identity or during festivals especially a hundred or so years ago in Africa. Now the practice of scarification has been banned in most African countries but it can still be seen. Even on the faces of some Ghanaians till this day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The masks are clearly in their natural colour, an oak brown and Ofei Darko uses cream to create light and shade, as well as blue to exaggerate the latter. These colours are repeated through at the painting giving it a sense of space and calm.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The faces all have closed eyes, very rare in sculpture but again reminding the viewer these masks are really a representation of real faces, long, sharp faces. They have closed their eyes because they are meditating; hence the name of the work “Meditation 2”. According to Darko one can see more with their eyes closed than with your eyes open. With ones eyes closed you can delve into your imagination (an artist’s home) and be wherever you want to be in a second and also create whatever you want to see. In all religions we close our eyes to meditate or as in Christianity, pray. It takes you to another level be it of peace or serene certainty. Our imagination is what most people use to create things we see in the physical form. Hence it is a powerful tool according to Ofei Darko and one has to agree. So maybe once in a while we all do some form of meditation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The back of the painting is filled with lines of adinkra symbols and inspired by patterns of old Africans designs done in straight horizontal lines. Ofei Darko says this idea came to him after seeing the houses in the Northern Region of Ghana<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and how much they still decorate<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and also design with lines. The Adrinkra bits remind the viewer it is a painting from Ghana and Darko himself is a Ghanaian. The adinkra signs include the famous <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Gye Nyame </i>sign, meaning Except God, to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sankofa</i>, meaning go back and learn about your roots and take what is needed, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Nsuruma, </i>the star, a child of the heavens, and others. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; tab-stops: 271.5pt;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Ofei Darko is a painter and sculptor in his forties; his works of faces are certainly very powerful. They catch you and grab your attention due to the strongness of them. Most are of real faces but there is a great variation in the works. His other works are equally as interesting and sometimes with his play of textures in some paintings one is reminded of ancient cave paintings, slightly Aborigine-like in image. He is certainly African it is deeply rooted in him and it appears in his works. One might look at the work meditation and think ‘Picasso’ but as confirmed by O. Darko himself, Africans have painted this way three thousand years before Picasso. In the West (Europe) Picasso helped to break set rules of art but he does not inspire Ofei Darko. According to the man himself he simply “lets the spirit guide him”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">There is more to come on Ofei Darko. </span></div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-67289383570744389212011-09-25T15:22:00.000-07:002011-09-25T15:22:54.767-07:00Peter Odeh. Face of Africa, 2003. Acrylic on Canvas. 26” x 36”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyphWnk2QOJfIoh5L1tA_Xo_EWTKudLfZ9scfei1Q1-LAjJCzMtIUf-R6ZDcVBz6lCJA5G5A1-8u2oP_TX51V1rCq6JlA6yzIfs5H01TWA2yTlETrFiBiJcr1OQK9v3gCpfueEjGziewTq/s1600/Odeh-+Face+of+Africa%252703+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyphWnk2QOJfIoh5L1tA_Xo_EWTKudLfZ9scfei1Q1-LAjJCzMtIUf-R6ZDcVBz6lCJA5G5A1-8u2oP_TX51V1rCq6JlA6yzIfs5H01TWA2yTlETrFiBiJcr1OQK9v3gCpfueEjGziewTq/s640/Odeh-+Face+of+Africa%252703+%25282%2529.jpg" width="438" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is a classic portrait painting in size as well as subject matter and with additions to emphasise the position of the person in the portrait or what the painter himself wants to portray. In this case the sitter does not know Odeh exists but he knows she does. It is a portrait of Patricia Onuchi, an Ibo, Nigerian and the face of Africa in 1998.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is a striking portrait. At first glance some have criticised it for looking to photographic, or too sleek, almost like an advertisement I was once told; but that is the power of this portrait. The portrait is suppose to be of a woman who is chosen as face of Africa to represent us internationally in a commercial industry of modelling. The seekness of that industry Odeh captures and makes it a likeable painting. The media industry in mass being quite young in Africa, persons under 35 or so who see this painting often say, wow, I like that; because they are used to the sleekness we now see in most commercial pictures.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Back to the painting, in the foreground is the image based on Patricia.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The female figure appears in a bust–type position (from her chest upwards). She is sideways but her head is turned to be seen full frontal view. Her natural hair is pulled back and elephant straws used to decorate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These elephant straws Odeh uses to fill a large space above the females head and it frames the painting by complementing all compositions in it, and also being of the colour white/off white, it adds light to the painting. The colours black and white dominate the painting; the only other time we see a different colour is on the female’s skin. The straws, with the images below the portrait being in the same colour draw the painting together. The extravagance and creativity of the fashion world is also seen through these elephant straws; furthermore it being on the head of a black face may take some viewers back to the stereotypical image of some costumes worn in the past days. The female hair as said is a very soft curly afro, almost like that of a mixed race person but at times even softer and so this easily allowed the twists in her hair for the creation on the head to be made. Patricia is Ibo in origin, from the East of Nigeria, hair like hers is common in her native land. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Her face is a long beautiful and elegant one. She has a defined forehead and eyebrows carefully tweezed to complement the rest of her features including her nose which his long and thin but fits her face. Odeh confessed in this painting he changed her eyes to make it more cat like and by doing this adds a come hither look or sexiness to the face; her eye lashes are defined by one sweep of a brush. The eyes again add to the sleekness talked about earlier on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her lips are well positioned underneath her nose; it has the definition and plumpness that makes it that of a black woman lips. Odeh uses a dark purply brown colour to paint her lips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Shade covers the back and most of the left side of her face but enough of her features are in view to see why she won the face of Africa. This includes her cheekbones high and defined, the way the fashion industry likes it. Her long face is one that has been greatly admired by the western fashion scene long before her time. Long faces and long necks are also very common in East Africa and it is an image that has been replicated for at least 55 years in the west. The model Iman is an example of these features. The shade engulfs most of her neck but you know it is long. On her brown skin painted by Odeh, his brushstrokes are so fine that on her face you see the highlights of her make up around her eyes, the powder used to highlight her cheekbones and around her nose one sees the make up carefully placed to accentuate all features making her face look as healthy as possible. The cleverness or brilliance of Odeh is in the portrayal of her make-up; making it look so real it is almost like a photograph. It is one thing to be admired in this painting. On her arm too Odeh does well to highlight the undertone of African dark skin: red. He gives the skin a milky appearance, making it seem smooth and soft. She is represented in this portrait as very slim; also ideal for the dominant western fashion industry. She is portrayed in a sleeveless v-neck black dress. What made Odeh paint her was he was proud to see a woman with black skin win the competition and given the chance to represent her people internationally. This is not the only portrayal of Patricia Onuchi Peter Odeh has. According to the painter himself, he has a very large and realistic portrait of Patricia in his studio, it is his centre piece. Additions Odeh made to the popular image he saw included, the couri shell on her forehead, the seashell as her necklace, and the arm bangle on her left arm, to make it look more native; according to Odeh. This is an interesting thing because it shows how, African woman can be placed next to any other woman in the world and not look like she does not fit in. There is a modern image of the African woman. Africa does move with the times just like the rest of the world; but it is not often shown outside Africa.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Next to the portrait on the left are two masks the first being of the Queen mother Idia of Benin. A very famous mask and because it is from a time before slavery in Africa it represents the power women once had more dominantly in Africa. It is a sculpture made out of a bronze so advanced in its making at that time, that today the metal itself cannot be copied; it is not known how it was done. Queen mother Idia is seen in this sculpture to also have a prominent forehead and a long face. Odeh again seems to be emphasising the view that nothing is new but also as if Patricia Onuchi is like a queen in his eyes. The mask with the round eyes is one that represents the Poro Society, a secret society in Benin City according to Odeh, he knows what is trying to portray with that. Both masks have been drawn in like shadings in the paintings to allowing the face of Africa to dominate. It is a painting that celebrates the beauty of an African woman. It shows the grace, precision, and modernity of the African woman. Africa is the only continent I hear of being called mother Africa perhaps it is because both the women and men know that without the women of Africa the continent would not stand so strongly. From Ner-fer-ti-ti to Sheba, to Amina, to Yaa Asantewaa, and to the modern women like Patricia and the standing Liberian president, African women would always be known for their beauty and definitely also for their strength. The African woman and those of the diaspora, have many dimensions which are yet to be explored by non Africans. If the painting is to be criticised for anything it could be said that is not enough subject matter in the painting or perhaps the neck could have been placed in a better composition. Also to praise a woman who has been in a kind of beauty contest too can be seen as slightly controversial due to the negativity surrounding pageant-like shows.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Odeh himself is half Ghanaian, half Nigerian resides mostly in Ghana to paint. He spent four years training and learning to become a painter. He is in his thirties and owns his own company, the Afrocentric Clan. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-70347152219642870872011-09-25T15:16:00.000-07:002012-02-01T09:09:20.971-08:00Traditional Dress: The Kaba and Slit.<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Kaba and Silt one of many Ghanaian traditional dresses, for women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is the most popular traditional dress worn by women simply because it looks elegant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Kaba a slit originates from the loose tunic like top worn all over Africa since the beginning of time and a loose cloth which women wrapped around their chest or waist and folded at the top to keep it firmly around the body. This wrap cloth evolved into a piece of cloth with strings that made it’s fitting safer. This then transgressed into the sown fitted skirt still with a string at the waist to tighten and loosen it, with a slit either on the bottom back or on the side for room for movement.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The top of the Kaba also evolved and darts were place in the middle to make it more fitted and a zip was placed at the back. An extra piece of cloth called ‘akataso’ in Twi, goes with the Kaba, big enough for a woman to wrap around herself, put over her shoulders to keep her warm, fold into an extra head scarf, or use it to carry a child on their back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">A Kaba usually is worn by women over 20 years old, for occasions and celebrations like naming ceremonies, parties or funerals. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For special positive celebrations like weddings, Ghanaian women like to wear a Kaba made with ‘Kente’. Kente is a hand weaved fabric of many colours and designs which originates from Ghana. It is centuries old and most of its designs have a meaning. Including the Zig-zag, which represents the split of the Oyoko clan, the royal clan of the Ashanti (pronounced as ‘asan -ti’ not ‘ashanti’), in the late 20<sup>th</sup> century; members of the clan are now live in different parts of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Kente cloth originates from the Ashanti kingdom and was created by weavers after watching a spider weaving its web. Kente is made with silk and cotton; its beauty has made it very popular around the world, especially with people of African origin. Prints of Kente are now also very popular. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The other special day that Ghanaians like to wear their Kaba is on Sundays. Ghana is dominantly Christian and the people of Ghana like to dress up for Church; a bit like wearing your Sunday best. On the way to the church you see an array of designs and colours; the women looking beautiful. The Kaba is fitted and brings out the classic shape of a woman. I once gazed at a man who was watching some women in their Kaba’s going for an occasion and truly I wished I could help by fanning him; he was getting too hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ghanaian women have immense creativity and are always drawing or describing their own ideas for their Kaba’s. An occasion is an excuse for a new Kaba. Seamstress and tailors are many in Ghana because everyone goes to them with their design and in a few days or weeks their Kaba is ready. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seamstresses do usually suggest ideas also and there are now many posters available to buy at the market with pictures of the latest Kaba designs. Due to the great creativity of the women, rarely do you see two women wearing the same style Kaba. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Kaba has gone through its fashion changes; there are the classic simple designs, like a fitted top and skirt with a variation of necks which will always be around. The fabric, batik, used to create the designs also affects the whole look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lists of designs are never ending, an example being in the eighties when it was the time of the power woman. The designs from then are truly worth seeing. They included the bird feather-like sleeves, the pointed sleeves and sides looking like an alien form Mars, the puffed up sleeves so big they seem to engulf the wearer at times, and the belovered shoulder pads. Other bold and brash designs are a wonderful reminder of the eighties. Just imagine the make up, the hair, the colourful prints and these bold designs; the eighties will remain in our hearts for some time to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the nineties the designs became simpler again and in the 2000, the designs are becoming more classic but more creative. Necks are created with numerous amount of styles, from the round, square, v-neck, to a net like neck or even a sleeveless kaba which leaves room for further creative designs at the neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Recently the most popular style has been what is called the fish- tale slit. This emerged in early 2004, where the back of the slit(the skirt), was gathered with extra cloth <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to leave more room for movement. This has now evolved into the all round fish like bottom; originally started by the Muslim women in Ghana who liked to have more room in their slit. Today sleeves are of a variation of designs and lengths, and designs like frills and shirt like designs have come and gone. World fashions also affect Kaba styles as they inspire designs. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Nigerian traditional way of dressing has also, become a norm in Ghana. The wearing of laces, the ‘cele’ ,the elaborate and numerous in designs headdress, and the loose style type top with long sleeves which is the traditional way of sewing the Nigerian dress, closest to the Ghanaian Kaba and Slit. Both cultures now pinch ideas form each other and with the growing number of Nigerian living in Ghana, the mixture in a daily preference of traditional dress very common.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">When it comes to fabrics for the Kaba, the batik cloth is it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The colourful batik cloth and its array of designs, from geometric patterns, to birds, plants, music waves, images of people and objects, is truly African. The batique cloth did not originate from Asia as some like to say but from Africa. There are batique style prints dating back to the 11<sup>th</sup> century in Africa. The arrival of the Portuguese in the 15<sup>th</sup> Century to Africa to trade, led them to take many the batiks, to sell in Asia. They became so popular in Asia, that Persians(Iranians), Indians, Indonesians an even the Japanese started to copy the prints and create their own designs which the Persians especially were good at doing. The batiks became very popular in England too, it was the time during the reign of Queen Elizabeth the first. The English later demanded the fabrics so much that a ban was put on them in England because those producing it for them, especially in Asia (India) did not have the technology to meet the demands. What a shame because the batik cloth would have been a fabric worldwide worn by now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The batik cloth is proudly African and this is why African demand for more designs and styles than anywhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just As it was in the 15<sup>th</sup> century, the batik cloth is still produced in African, Asian and some European countries and they sell to eachother but mainly to people of African Origin. The copying to designs continues but governments are now trying to stop it as it is costing the designers some of their daily bread. Even the print of Kente on fabrics is now even copied in China!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4mfuYwfkm2X-g-1zSuYZuKmuDpgThwB5HZ_aNkAacHKpouC26wCRsz6OCKAj41Xbm_-CNK3p5IbN_iFgp295NZq7UIttSFgbKSrQjR7S0P-SbLRMQmB-TJ5LsS2Tx0Pnf-9DNyUkoWCP/s1600/Woman+in+Kaba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4mfuYwfkm2X-g-1zSuYZuKmuDpgThwB5HZ_aNkAacHKpouC26wCRsz6OCKAj41Xbm_-CNK3p5IbN_iFgp295NZq7UIttSFgbKSrQjR7S0P-SbLRMQmB-TJ5LsS2Tx0Pnf-9DNyUkoWCP/s1600/Woman+in+Kaba.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Top: Kaba and Slit, A mixture of the Ghanaian Kaba and Nigerian Style with a Kente scarf (Ghana). Bottom: Royal Man in Cloth (Wrapped) </span></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH57mA3drwXnL9yDu-MVpjWyjom8SIx6Va2TpolJj-U9GM6e1LnIP0k9xnExg-qILUJ-l_QqebQS-F8A0i-vm8Jv9UU3ff59OzxI75UJhAmxOhB7i7LLUdBOpL2lkQ4XrVWFR98IYz8Qxb/s1600/Man+in+Cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH57mA3drwXnL9yDu-MVpjWyjom8SIx6Va2TpolJj-U9GM6e1LnIP0k9xnExg-qILUJ-l_QqebQS-F8A0i-vm8Jv9UU3ff59OzxI75UJhAmxOhB7i7LLUdBOpL2lkQ4XrVWFR98IYz8Qxb/s1600/Man+in+Cloth.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Will the Kaba and Slit ever go out of fashion and be left behind? The answer is, never. More and more designs are being created, more fabrics are being produced. There are now fashion designers in Ghana who only work with the batik fabric and there are more of the youth becoming prouder of their traditions and also wearing the Kaba to say so or other forms of traditional dress. The Kaba can be worn on any occasion as a replacement for the universal style of dress; its versatility also keeps it in the system. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">So where do Kaba styles go from here? Well beaded sleeves, sewn onto the sleeves, are delicately emerging into the system. I will not be surprised to see precious stones being used in the same manner. Shifted button lines to the left or right may appear and a play with angles on different parts of the Kaba; like the eighties, but more refined. The creativity of the Ghanaian/African women has no end and this keeps the Kaba and Slit reigning forever.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The first ever Ghana fashion week will be taking place this year, so do look out for it. Visit Ghana to see the live shows; chain shop owners come and place orders for some of the beautiful designs you are bound to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From, clothes, to shoes, handbags and much more. Visit Ghana for fashion which can compete with Milan, Paris, London and New York in quality and style.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ghana is hot at the moment so come and catch a spark at Ghana’s Fashion week; if not you’ll regret it later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Anyama Buabeng<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>05-06-2008</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-right: -79.7pt; text-indent: -81pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Monotype Corsiva";">Traditional Wear</span></b></div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-46094432002204902292011-09-25T15:05:00.000-07:002011-09-25T15:05:12.316-07:00The 'Kaba (top) and Slit (the skirt)' - The Origin. The Traditional Dress of Women in Ghana<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:TargetScreenSize>800x600</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The answer is one of the mix Ancient Empires of Africa, especially, West Africa, Ghana, Mali, Carthage, Nubia-East and West. “Through trade and civilisation cotton and linen fabrics were being produced by these empires to be mostly worn by the elite, as they had the money hence could afford it. “The route taken by traders of the Maghreb to Ghana started in North Africa in Tahert (Country), coming down through Sjilmasa in Southern Morocco. From there the trail went south and inland, running parallel with the coast, then round to the south-east through Awdaghust and ending up in Kumbi Saleh – the royal town of Ancient Ghana. Inevitably the traders brought Islam with them.” As well as bringing Islam with them Islamic designs created with the use of thread of a variation of colours. Fabrics were being traded off in countries that did not make the specific fabrics, but bought them. An example being Berber (North African) blankets being found in caves in Mali in the 11<sup>th</sup> century AD.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cloth was used for a variety of designs including tunic type tops, hats, wraps, to name a few. </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The origin of the Kaba (top) and Slit (skirt) is of a two piece of cloth that was wrapped around the bottom half of the body to create a skirt and also a sash or tape placed around ones waist to keep the wrap in place. The top half of the Kaba was like a basic Top/ T- Shirt with two openings (slits) on both sides for ease of movement.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> The evolution of the two piece cloth from just a cloth used to wrap around the base of the body, and the basic top originates from the theory of simply wanting to make the top more fitted and the two piece cloth being sown at the sides to make it into a skirt.</span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> Progression of style included darts descending from the middle of either the back, side, or the front of the garment from the bust line through the waist to the hips of the Kaba to make it more fitting and flattering to the female structure. To have the perfect “darts measurement”, a woman’s chest, bust, waist and hip measurement had to be measured in order to get the fit right. The “princess line” is yet another name for a darts system which runs from the arm pits, right under the bust, in a curve on both sides straight down to the hips. Also in the rules of the darts, “normal darts” running in the middle can be converted into a “princess line” dart system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Kaba is worn with an ‘akataso’, a at least a two to three yards of cloth usually wrapped around the waist and used for extra warmth like a shawl, carrying ones baby on the back or even carrying money by tying it in the cloth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A head dress was also worn, is made out of a metre or two of cloth. So the Kaba is a dress of a three-piece.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Kaba style design is perhaps unconsciously produced by women all over the world from West Africans to, Greco-Roman women, to the Thai traditional dress. Batik and Tie and Dye cloths are mostly made of cotton,</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">is</span> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">what is used to sew a Kaba. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The Batik cloth has made its mark so much in Africa that there is a great assumption by some that it is only worn by Africans nowadays. The origin of the batik cloth is African and was taken to Asia by the Portuguese in the 15<sup>th</sup> century AD, and copied, mass produced, new designs thought of and through trade also sold in Africa very much like the batik trade presently. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Today in Ghana the Kaba is celebrated as much as it was 50 years ago. As one grows the beauty of the fabrics and designs lures one into loving the Kaba and Slit. With a greater awareness and pride in our culture today, Ghanaian women are proud to wear the Kaba and it compliments our women’s figures very well. Also the women like adding their own twist to the designs. New designs are often created, photographed, made into a wall chart and is bought by everyone. Creative ideas come into Kaba designs almost every day. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of the popular styles of today are the collar going off the shoulder to create a hand for the top of the Kaba, a short shirt type sleeve, even simply sleeveless with a “V” or round neck (favoured very much by the younger adults). The skirt is either in a panel/fish slit or a slit cut on the side and the traditional slit style remains. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those wanting some new style ideas how about braiding the sleeveless arms like hair or adding some metal to make the middle even more corset-like to your size please and adding some embroidery (small, very detailed) to the whole of the fitted area from below your bust line downwards; it would look excellent on a plain quality fabric. There is even using jewellery for the sleeves. Remember you read it here first! The versatility of the Kaba is what also makes it well liked; one can wear it to any occasion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Kaba and Slit will always keep its basic structure of a ‘skirt and a top’; while numerous ideas are applied to it to create the designs of the Kaba and silt we know today.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU_1M-FyjzKX11UNe-9MnN_9-lGZPFRFd6SwZMDhyphenhyphen2zc2yY-R6f3cW1BIXv9b3AquDIhGgzZDxXlBCOLwRtX_vyODuv8-ocep5YlkUOWzsA-JQPCSBXlZNllbEMT7ITvJ1k-Xk-XjzTbP/s1600/Kaba+%2526+Slit+-+posters.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWU_1M-FyjzKX11UNe-9MnN_9-lGZPFRFd6SwZMDhyphenhyphen2zc2yY-R6f3cW1BIXv9b3AquDIhGgzZDxXlBCOLwRtX_vyODuv8-ocep5YlkUOWzsA-JQPCSBXlZNllbEMT7ITvJ1k-Xk-XjzTbP/s640/Kaba+%2526+Slit+-+posters.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posters of some Kaba Designs. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"> More picutres to come without the blur of a flash light.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #333399;"> </span></span>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-24464628619099484892011-09-25T14:45:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:45:39.842-07:00Hilton Korley – Water Carriers, 2006, Acrylic. Private Collection. Approx 20”by 20”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZecC2ZFG_YyupQUy8rWuX2vOOCHinDA6tgB5xf8J9vItzedDjzt1HBX5-b3z1khW3dL7MawEY7QF1bVvbyW2eqWBh4ZDFz0uKWRyn50rPqmqVlLzZ-IuCixnx4teKU7tGYB-6abRYjCk/s1600/Korley+-+Water+Carriers03yes+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZecC2ZFG_YyupQUy8rWuX2vOOCHinDA6tgB5xf8J9vItzedDjzt1HBX5-b3z1khW3dL7MawEY7QF1bVvbyW2eqWBh4ZDFz0uKWRyn50rPqmqVlLzZ-IuCixnx4teKU7tGYB-6abRYjCk/s640/Korley+-+Water+Carriers03yes+%25282%2529.jpg" width="430" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">“Water Carriers” is part of a series of paintings called “Carries” by Korley. This version is simply a composition of five women walking into the distance with the pots they carry the water in on their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two women are placed in the foreground and they make you very aware of the movement in the painting. The other three are ahead of them walking on further into the painting. This gives the viewer a sense of depth as well as the space beyond which penetrates right through the painting. This feeling of space is all around the whole entire scene and, when I first saw this painting, I thought it captures the mood of Ghana. The freedom, the heat, the air, the space, the happiness, and the constant communication Ghanaians adhere to. People appreciate people and even at times people do not understand the idea of having some time on your own; this could be an advantage or a disadvantage depending on the situation. In this case we have five women who decided instead of going to fetch water on their own they could go together and ofcourse they are chatting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The colours of the painting stand out. Korley uses at least four shades of the green and if at looked a closely one could possibly observe more. He uses it to create the light air surrounding the painting and there we do find the lightest shade of green; especially at the bottom half of the painting. Korley is a painter who has a good and strong paint technique which allows this painting to be interesting while others could fail abysmally capturing this scene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the bottom half, which opens the viewer up to the painting, it is like the clear open air is felt behind the women. To this Korley adds strokes of white to add even more space to this section and it opens up the painting like, a theatre curtains being raised from the sides to open the first scene of a performance. As it lifts one curiosity is engaged. When one concentrates on the outside of the painting and gets to the top half, the green is slighter darker than at the bottom half and the even colour creates a sense of clam at the top of the painting. The top half is a representation of the sky and clouds which one often finds calming. The colour green itself is seen as calming and is that why it is the colour most dominant in nature? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">To create a sense of depth towards the women’s journey he uses a darker shade of green around them and makes it even darker as you go deeper into the centre point of the painting .The woman in the middle is surrounded by the darkest green which could look black in a certain light. In doing so Korley, invites your eyes to travel around the painting and also allows the viewer to notice the lady in the middle; therefore you do not miss a thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Green is also the colour of the women’s dresses. The first lady on the left of painting is wearing sleeveless dress with spaghetti straps, it is a hot environment and her dress falls below her knee as do all the dresses of the other women. She is also carrying a baby on her back and carries this baby with an extra piece of cloth. This cloth the Akan people of Ghana call an ‘akataso’ meaning ‘overall’ and with kaba and slit (traditional dress of some Ghanaian women), the ‘akataso’ is also sown as part of the attire it can used as another cloth tired on around ones chest or waist if wished, it is used to cover oneself when cold, tied as a head scarf, or also used to carry a child like this woman is doing. There is a technique of binding the cloth around oneself which keeps the child securely in place and it is of a great convenience to the mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The colour ‘white’ Korley uses to highlight the folds in the fabrics and edges as the flow in the wind. Korley also defines the edges of their clothing with white as well as dark green and black. Their dresses are loose and comfortable allowing the freedom of movement; adding to the lightness of the painting. The woman like the others is also wearing a head scarf on her head and a small piece of white cloth has been rolled and twisted then placed on the woman head to help her carry the weight of the pot. One hand holds the pot up while the other freely flows with her movement and conversation. Some of the other women are the same. It shows the extent of comfort of carrying things on ones head. In Ghana it is done everywhere and some even carry things without holding onto it; they have become experts at balancing things on their heads since childhood. In this pot is the water they are perhaps carrying to their homes. It is preferred to do this chore early in the morning or at a committed time one wishes to use. The pots are decorated with two designs the kriss cross design and the upside down ‘V’ design. Both designs are amongst the most ancient to be found on the African Continent and it is still used until today because they are truly classic. The pots are a light brown colour. A darker brown is the colour of the women’s skin. Their skin is dark, looks toned, thanks to Korley’s highlights on their skin with the lighter brown and white, and also it glistens as it should because of a daily dose of natural butters. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Also on the women we see jewellery. They are all wearing hoop earrings and gold bangles on their hands. The second leading lady on the left is the only one who is also wearing a peach coloured necklace; one made of beads perhaps and her bangles are of copper and gold. Again Korley adds detail to the scene. Their choice of jewellery is an assurance that they are Northern Ghanaian Muslim women. Their round, faces with it’s slightly delicate features and their elegant tall statue is typical of some Muslim women in the north. Their head being covered with a head wrap is also another confirmation. Although covering your head does not necessarily make you Muslim in Ghana, it is part of the culture and all women do it and also some men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially as you get close to the Sahara because a head wrap can shelter you from the sand and the sun as well as help keep you warm in the cold nights. Korley adds variation to their dress’s some sleeveless others with sleeves, some with a round neck etcetera, to keep the eye fascinated. But it also shows the creative nature of Ghanaians as every woman usually has her own design idea when having her clothes sewn. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In this scene we do not see the feet of the women but as a viewer you accept that it actually looks right! Korley has placed the women in a ‘V’ type composition which emphasizes their walk and they look like models on a catwalk and their structure definitely suites. Their structure is what all the western designers draw when creating their collections.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">At the back of the third lady, is another baby who is the most prominent figure in the painting. The baby is wearing bangles too, making it a she; a she of the next generation. She observes her mother and learns.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The painting is set in a rural environment. And although it could be said that this is a typical ‘African Scene’, this scene is no longer too common in Ghana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Africa including Ghana has moved on and modern urban environments do at times look the same as those in the 1<sup>st</sup> World. And some villages now look like the suburbs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the ‘typical African Scene’ in 2007 is no longer the typical African scene expected by habitants outside Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Hilton Korley is a self taught artist. He learnt from his father who is also an artist ‘Martey’. As I mentioned in the beginning this is one of a small series of paintings called ‘carriers’. He likes to paint them in a variety of colours and in different postures, with different things on their heads. This specific painting is now in a private collection in Europe. Now in his thirties he has a skill which could rival that of the best artists around the world. He likes to paint scenes of women and of the old Accra colonial building settings. Night scenes are also a favourite. He lives in Accra, the capital of Ghana and his works can also be found at the Centre for National Culture in Accra. </span>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-46721763866745621152011-09-25T14:40:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:40:24.375-07:00Samuel Ashon. Exhibition :Pictorial Batiques. Golden Tulip, 1 -30th of June 2007.<b>A little bit about Samel Ashon : a man dedicated to Ghanaian art and culture. He is super friendly, and loves to build a community with his colleges and those around him. the following is about his exhibition at the Golden Tulip Hotel;</b> exhibited by one of Ghana's best art dealers ...I will let you go to Ghana and visit the Tulip to find out who he is.<br />
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</style> <![endif]--> <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Samuel Ashon is holding a June exhibition at the Golden Tulip. The works are exhibited in the arts section of the hotel and is on until the end of June. Ashon journey which led him to pictorial batiks has been an interesting one and in this article I am sharing a little more of that with you to help you understand the works and the man that is Samuel Ashon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">For as long as he can remember S. Ashon has been into painting. It began with art in infancy and transgressed to a study of Rural Art, he majored in textiles, sculpture and minored in ceramics at the Kwame Nkrumah University. It taught Ashon that art is accessible from many materials and with creativity one can achieve what one wants. Like a lecturer once told me “with imagination you can achieve anything”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ashon attended La Presbyterian School and was fortunate to have a teacher with an interest in the visual arts who encouraged him to pursue his dream. After his O’levels he went to work at the lands department where he decided to redo his O’levels studied by himself and did much better. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It was in the sixth form that he decided to take art seriously and make it his profession. After he gained entry into KUNST where he was advised by lectures to go back and redo his A-levels in order to return and do a degree instead of the diploma he had started. But Ashon had already paved his way in his mind to finish is diploma and go abroad to do a masters degree. (Mr Ashon is an example of many who have diploma and Ghana who want to leave the country to better themselves in education because the Ghanaian system of having to start university from scratch although they have an HND or diploma. Abroad it is not so, and Ghana is loosing a lot of skill due to this. Recently it has been revised in some polytechnics but it is still a subject needing much attention.) But after<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">His diploma he arrived at the Centre for National culture where he did a year of national service. Coincidentally there was a workshop on pictorial batiques and himself and also a few of the men on their service took it on. After the workshop was over Ashon ask his fellow workmates to peruse in the pictorial batiques; to substitute their wages also. The Craft shop at the Arts Centre sold their work and they gained profit. Later a few of his fellow workmates stopped the project. The next set up was to set up a studio at home pursue pictorial batique. Ashon had chosen his route partly out of necessity because the equipment for ceramics and sculpture was more than he could afford at the time. And so he bought his bowls, dyes and calico and has not looked back since. Working with the Centre for National Culture (former Arts Centre), led Ashon to stay in Ghana and he is now the deputy director at the Centre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Ashon’s works of pictorial batiques are rare, there are those who pursue this art in Ghana but not to the standard S.Ahson has taken it. His “aim is to achieve a result that oil paint can achieve”. And he gets it. His subject matters are of market women, sunsets, buildings and portraits. As an artist he appreciates "the from" of a woman (he laughs after saying this) and he observes it for his work. Or so he saids; it is something you hear a lot of artists chant. Also S. Ashon is close to his mum and lived near Malata market where he went to observe all the batik materials and textures of cloth he could see. Also seeing all those market women, working hard gave him a sense of respect for women as he saw them as part of the backbone of our society. Therefore, Ashon likes to pay tribute to Ghanaian women in his works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work of the “market women file” is an example of the forms of women Ashon was talking about. Also the scene of “canoes” is one you would see in a typical fishing village. The best thing about that scene is you see it as a real (stereotypically like oil or acrylic painting) painting. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Ashon’s pursue of pictorial batique makes him unique in Ghana. I so far have not seen another artist who works like him and to his level of skill. He has contributed had exhibitions around the world and led others have commented on it rarity. Perhaps there are only about three or so artists in the world who do what Ashon does. He has his June exhibition on now at the Golden Tulip, along with fellow artists Owusu-Antwi and Larry Otoo. There is a rotation of Ashon’s works so it may be worth one or two visits. Ashon along with his works is an inspiration of his fellow Ghanaians, he shows you can make it by staying in Ghana as well as becoming a world candidate of his skill; Art. </span>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-37321472589278358152011-09-25T14:31:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:51:02.235-07:00Pictorial Batik Paintings by Samuel Ashon<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdryexDM532aLtj8z11Py024eNdDevRUss9xy-QtK6QP8TLMgExsnf89IQoHoM6MeEI5GFCfUs6VSsZW9riQLzLp_jpe3K6m0zgnXqWiawTIMX1eNZtax4Pf7nPM9YjVTgQTVDig_nGr78/s1600/Ashon-+Kokobite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdryexDM532aLtj8z11Py024eNdDevRUss9xy-QtK6QP8TLMgExsnf89IQoHoM6MeEI5GFCfUs6VSsZW9riQLzLp_jpe3K6m0zgnXqWiawTIMX1eNZtax4Pf7nPM9YjVTgQTVDig_nGr78/s640/Ashon-+Kokobite.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kokrobite Beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Good Day</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Starting with the Beach scene called “Kokrobite Beach”; its dominance is in green, natures colour. It is scene that used to be typical on most Ghanaian beaches across the south of the country. Now those beaches are dominated with restaurants, hotels and peoples homes (one cannot blame them).</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">In the background at the lower part of the painting we see the original use of the beach to those who live near it. There are huts presented in the dark green and a yellow lemon green for the straw that is the roofing of these huts. The huts are where the local fishermen keep their nets tools etcetera, so that when it is time to fish, they do not carry all of their equipment from their true homes. The huts consist of a door which is the light source into the room. Lanterns or battery powered sources of light are the equivalent. In front of the huts is an example of the wooden canoes used by the fishermen to fish. Behind the huts is a tree which helps to form almost a separate scene of huts in the painting and makes the background easy on the eye to digest as a viewer, and also the viewer gets a sense of what is beyond.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">There is a bay that leads into the water from the side of the huts at times needed to mount things in and out of the sea, or for human pleasure.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Coconut trees dominate this beach scene again in two shades of green; the leaves are an example of the waxing process Ashon talks of in batik dying. The lighter lime colour has been used to accentuate the leaves in the seeing of the stems and the texture of the leaves themselves. The palm trees frame this painting and Ashon has given them a variation of lengths as well as barks that start from one end of the painting to another, which is typical of some of the coconut trees on the old fishing beaches in Ghana.** Looking at the trees one cannot help but get a sense of paradise(as marketed by all holiday agents/resorts). It is the scene one expects on a tropical beach especially when coming from the west. This leads us to the holiday maker, in his shorts sitting underneath the palm trees relaxing. He is soaking in the scene as well as the quiet sea. In comparison to the local native woman in her batik skirt and plain top in the foreground of the painting who is carrying something on her head; most probably some food to sell, something quick to eat. Ashon likes to depict women as workers due to his growing up near Mamobi market, a market in Accra, the capital of Ghana. There he saw a range of market women working very hard to provide for their families. The scene at Mamobi market was one of each woman with her small (like the woman in this painting) business to those who have progressed further larger businesses. Ashon commented that he saw women as part of the backbone of society and that is why he likes to depict women in his paintings as credit to women. </span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">This scene is one you get on some of the beaches still in it’s original format and it includes some of the local women carrying their mini business’s on their heads going round offering those retiring on the beach, if only for a day, a quick snack. The restaurants have not overtaken this type of beach yet, hence the sight of these women is often welcomed. </span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">The beach to some locals in the countryside is seen as place of function. Firstly to attain food, fish, to eat or to sell. And it is also a place where one finds a connected stream to collect water for the home or a place to dump refuse (as still done all over the world by large factories disposing of their chemicals); this scene is now extremely rare in Ghana. Although the locals do take time out to go swimming and enjoy the peacefulness of the beach. </span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">The trees go in a variation of the directions in the scene and dominate the top half of the batik painting. Their curves and swirls are naturally of nature’s law and as said before frame the whole scene. The palm trees are lined with black to help in the definition of the tree structure. The only thing behind the tops of the trees is the blue sky which Ashon achieves with white and light brushes of blue giving it a sense of calmness and it looks like a clear day. </span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">The shadows of the palm trees are reflected in the sand and again the play of colours is seen with the use of a dark vegetation green to create the shadows. If you keep looking at it you could mistake it for the colour grey shadows one is used to. It plays on the eye, a bit like watching the “Mona Lisa”, making it an interesting scene to look at.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Apart from the lady in the opening scene, there is another canoe on the right hand side of the painting again emphasizing the use of the sea to few locals. A typical fishing village would harbor much more boats than those seen in this painting. </span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">At the tips of the sand the water comes to greet us and the salt in the water makes the edges of the water white and this creates a pattern alongside the beach. The sea is presented to the viewer on the left handside. It is blue and not at high tide hence it is calm and simply breathing by pushing a little water forward which in turn naturally goes back into the sea. The sea disappears into the background of the painting and also the left side of the painting, reminding the viewers of its vastness as well as taking him or her into the scene because it is what we see when we go to the beach. This is why Samuel Ashon calls his works pictorial batiks. They are like oil or acrylic paintings and that is the effect/scene he wants to achieve. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7vB5I4_7e_6wlS9isJWcZQ4hxXK54L8xcWcagtc7mJp6SzfVzHqxN3n6xcu_7aCo9aK_SkDYmgP3cQxIcSHS6qSZtEoI3_kGibOkKI7O5ax39hkeRSrA_6FXVFU2YHg2n6W5jSqNkD9b/s1600/Ashon+-+Sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV7vB5I4_7e_6wlS9isJWcZQ4hxXK54L8xcWcagtc7mJp6SzfVzHqxN3n6xcu_7aCo9aK_SkDYmgP3cQxIcSHS6qSZtEoI3_kGibOkKI7O5ax39hkeRSrA_6FXVFU2YHg2n6W5jSqNkD9b/s400/Ashon+-+Sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reflections</td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Other examples of Ashon’s work are, ‘A loaded file ‘, the scene of market women with their stock on their heads. ‘A Good Day’ is a scene in which you get to see an example of the detail Ashon puts in his work, the variation of colours to achieve it, and how he manages to make batik works interesting. The following scene called ‘reflections’ a sunset is one Ashon loves to paint. The simple plain colours in this painting make it refreshing to see. Ashon’s sunsets are usually more of a complication of colours and take on the form of more impressionist abstract styles. Complete abstract is also created by Ashon and it dominantly takes the form of shapes.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Practicality, may have lead Ashon to work as a pictorial batique artist, he at the time thought of becoming a sculpturer or doing ceramics but, the equipment needed and the money for it then did not suit his pocket. But as perhaps fate would have it, it has led him to become the only artist I have seen in Ghana who works like this. His works are unique. And to honour this, his works have been exhibited all around Europe, USA as well as Africa. He is first to say there are others like him around the world but to his standard there are not more than a handful. He is an exception in Ghanaian art and if not for the enjoyment of painting his works must be seen for its rarity.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">Currently Samuel Ashon works as the Deputy Director at the Centre for National Culture in Accra, Ghana. If you are lucky to meet the man himself his infectious, bright smile and constant mood of joy would make you warm to him. Samuel Ashon is an example of true success in Ghana when some think it can only be done by going abroad.</span></div><span style="color: white;"> </span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: white;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">A pattern of holding an exhibition yearly at the Golden Tulip Hotel in Accra, has become Ashon’s other fate for the past six or more years. This year’s exhibition was in June 2007. And featured some of the works you see on the following page. There is always a rotation of works, so more than one visit may be needed during exhibition time. Works at a dominant number of exhibitions in Ghana are sold during the early days and taken away so it is best to get to the exhibitions early! </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Loaded File</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Have a look at the next blog for my thoughts on his exhibition:) .Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-64760832037834927482011-09-25T14:13:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:51:37.379-07:00“Kwame Nkrumah” by Angus Amankwa – Buadu. Oil on Canvas. 60”x34 inches. Oil on Canvas.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIMEevysPis-DZwRnQk4_Iooe04w8hG8xexewenseQ0a5raJveYLU2K24DI-SrwQsEa1AumkVzCAIHk_wUVfMxJwYtCiTxtIiT1Q2HBfCcPOYIN14bqKTTGmF7SKXTEk9Kxi4NK09p0wE/s1600/Nkrumah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIMEevysPis-DZwRnQk4_Iooe04w8hG8xexewenseQ0a5raJveYLU2K24DI-SrwQsEa1AumkVzCAIHk_wUVfMxJwYtCiTxtIiT1Q2HBfCcPOYIN14bqKTTGmF7SKXTEk9Kxi4NK09p0wE/s640/Nkrumah.jpg" width="374" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This painting is simply titled “Kwame Nkrumah”. It is celebration of the man who led Ghana to freedom on the 6<sup>th</sup> of March 1957 and like a symbol of Nkrumah’s political life. The painting’s composition has been divided into two. At its top, well known pictures of Kwame Nkrumah and at the bottom sites associated with him and also the Kente cloth symbolising the unity of Ghana’s one nation, form the very upper tip of the Upper Regions to the bottom of the Guinea coast. Various signs have also been placed on the painting like a stamp to help us verify Nkrumah.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In the foreground of the painting we have he traditional horn blower with a blue cloth tied around his waist with convincing folds Angus paints well. He is a dark man with a defined strong physique which adds strength and importance to what his mission is; which is to blow the horn. The horn which his eyes are fixed on. In blowing the horn he opens the painting like a theatre curtain being lifted to present a performance. And in this circumstance, the performance is that of Nkrumah. The horn gilded with the sheen of gold shows the specialness of the occasion. Also at the Nkrumah memorial park we see statues of men blowing horns in front of Nkrumah and this man reminds the viewer of one of them.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">At the top half of the painting Nkrumah is presented in three portraits, the main one being in the middle is a frontal view of Nkrumah’s face. The tone of his skin works but his features of lines on his face are over defined, making his lips seem more prominent than they once were. Angus can definitely draw features but needs to work on it to make his features appear more subtle. Although, Nkrumah’s signature forehead is represented well and his attire is suppose to be of the traditional kente cloth. The patterns and colours of the kente cloth are those expected including the adjoining weaving lines and the red, oranges, blue, greens and black colours. But after Nkrumah’s hand the fabric changes to another kente print and the viewer is left to ask why, in a portrait taken from a photograph. Also Nkrumah’s white top is dotted with gold to add some brightness to the painting but here again his top changes to the colour of gold on the left handside of his body and again the viewer is left asking why it should be so? Angus is seen to be mixing photomontage with some imagination. Angus does seem to have a good hand for folds in drapery which he does very well but not brilliantly. Nkrumah’s hand with the raised finger is part of the group of images that take centre stage in the painting. The hand is defined in structure but is too big to fit the anatomy of Nkrumah in this painting. On the left next to Nkrumah’s hand is the Ghana’s coat of Arms reminding one of our logo as a country, “freedom and justice”. The coat of arms is held up by two eagles which are known for their swiftness, cleverness in action which can be compared to wisdom, observance, a healthy dose of pride and presence; character references which I wish for all our people. Eagles fly alone and with its confidence it succeeds. So imagine what a union of eagles like the two holding the coat of arms can do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">On the top of the coat of arms is the black star, the same black star represented on the triumphal arch, which can be found in the independence square in Accra, seen in the painting on the right hand side of Nkrumah’s hand. The triumphal arch was a structure built by the Ancient Romans as a sign of victory. And indeed Nkrumah along with Ghana overcame a great hurdle in 1957 to attain victory and regain Ghana’s freedom. Angus does well in his observation of the blocks used to build the triumphal arch. He is careful to pick out the different shades of the blocks and also in doing so adds detail and solidarity to the structure. The six roundels that can be found on the triumphal arch are also represented in the painting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The black star itself reminds us of “black power” and black victory. The black star will continue to shine forever as a pride of all Africans in the diaspora and with Ghana at 50 it looks to be shining brighter than ever in all its associated contents. The colour black in ancient Egypt was a colour seen as good. The first name of Egypt was “Kemet” meaning black land and out of the darkest soil, because it is filled with more nutrients, came the best farm produce for the Egyptians. Our dark skin is one of value; God created us with the soil of the land (according to the Old testament). Kemet/Nubia being part of our origins we cannot forget that. The triumphal arch completes the three things that take centre stage in the painting. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">At the top left and right of the painting are two side views of Nkrumah both popular pictures; with this Angus reminds us of the photomontage technique. In addition to this the lines of light in light blue, blue, yellow and pink gives the painting a sixties retro feel representing the time of Nkrumah’s rule as the first president of Ghana. The lines of colour also complements the sky below the portraits of Nkrumah, pulls the painting together and adds harmony. In European art, side portraits are those expected on coins with royalty or aristocratic images on them. Being represented in such a fashion gave the person a sense of immortality and importance combined; enough to leave their mark on society which Nkrumah did worldwide. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">On the portrait on the left are two Adrinkra signs. The top one which looks like a cross means in Twi “Kra Pa”, good fortune and sanctity, a wish Nkrumah promised to Ghana after regaining independence. The bottom Adrinka sign is that of in Twi “Nsoroma”, a star, a child of the heavens; trying to indicate that Nkrumah was a kind of saviour for Ghana in 1957 in regaining our freedom from the British. Ghana was the first country in Africa to do so and inspired many others to follow. The whole of Africa during Ghana at fifty is now “free forever”. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">On the bottom left of the painting is the structure built to commemorate Nkrumah at the Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra; again here Angus picks out the brickwork in the structure. The grass and steps found at the park are also represented in the painting and on the grass the painter has placed the Ghana national flag. In death we still honour Nkrumah and Ghana with a flag representing the blood our forefathers shed to regain our land (red), the gold we posses (gold), and the endless vegetation of our land (green). The black star again is represented. The flag in this painting takes the place of the Nkrumah statue we are used to seeing in the memorial park. Afterall without Kwame Nkrumah we may have not had our freedom in 1957 and for that we say thank you, long live Ghana and also with God, Gye Nyame, to quote Nkrumah “backward never!”. Angus does well in reminding the viewer of a time in Ghana’s history and views associated with Nkrumah. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This painting can be found at the National Gallery of Art at the Centre for National Culture, Accra; previously named the Arts Centre. </span></div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-14570227447881488692011-09-25T14:09:00.000-07:002011-09-25T14:47:58.306-07:00Art Critic on Agenda Ahead II – by Glomess (Mr & Mrs Frank Glover)<div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Frank in name, frank in nature. The Glover family are well known artists in Ghana, including the legend, Ablade Glover; Frank is his nephew. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This is one of my very first crtiques of Ghanaian art... . </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Acrylic on Canvas created in 2005.</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjur7YL0NwpVMKgHUAB4dN2FXObUPmdUPex5gDlFlevdhFjKznCYwAelZdYIJV1I04GFjKmNnKA1cbg23Rzh0cezUD-vxfaq4w_paxmyRJca4DuV0ZwTRxskx4NGj7r9z-FvDAsQdiIWu4H/s1600/Agenda+Ahead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjur7YL0NwpVMKgHUAB4dN2FXObUPmdUPex5gDlFlevdhFjKznCYwAelZdYIJV1I04GFjKmNnKA1cbg23Rzh0cezUD-vxfaq4w_paxmyRJca4DuV0ZwTRxskx4NGj7r9z-FvDAsQdiIWu4H/s640/Agenda+Ahead.jpg" width="424" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is a picture with a blue background, reminding you of the sea and sky.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">With a few brushstrokes beneath, the painter lets you know they are on the sea and it is nine men on an agenda ahead. Again with a brushstroke Glomess creates a body of one of the men with a variation of colours including blue, dark blue, greens, yellow, orange and hints of red. The figures are individually seen.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Their posture is one of seriousness, as if they are in an army marching. It lets the viewer know their agenda is a serious one or one on which they intend to get results. The figures take all the foreground of the painting making the viewer only concentrate on them. Their posture also places them like the sail of the boat that they are in, emphasising on the direction they have chosen and the determination to complete it. There is no flowing hair and there is something about the structure of their heads that gives you the impression they are men. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Two men if not more look to be wearing hats. The third from the left looks like he is wearing a workers hat from a building site (red in colour). And a few of the men look like they are in uniforms. Are these men workers in a boat or ready for a revolution? It reminds one of the communist sculptures (to be found formally in Russia and in China), in strength and seriousness but this time round they are all black men. This is an example that we are all human when it comes to the seriousness of an agenda ahead. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The boat they are in looks like an ordinary wooden boat; but Glomess uses colours to give the boat more boldness, definition and strength to match the confidence of the men.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Although the “Agenda Ahead II” painting could be criticised for being too easy to paint or for not having enough detail or even too impressionist to be good, it is a good painting in the sense that it serves its purpose and forfills its title and idea. And who could say motivation is a bad thing? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sometimes in life an agenda becomes that important to us as individuals and you become very serious until completion or try to be. </span></div>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2933798827833690328.post-24621926494227727722011-09-25T13:57:00.000-07:002011-09-26T11:57:15.879-07:00Face to Face by Amon Kotei“Face to Face” – Amon Kotei.<b>Amon Kotei, Painter/Graphic Designer. He is the man who designed the Ghanaian coat of arms; this he got to do by winning a competition set by Dr Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana's first president).<br />
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Born in 1915, he is a funny man and an assured one too. He once told me I looked like his grandmother ...that was an honour. This piece I wrote for the Daily Graphic newspaper (Ghana) to comemorate Ghana's independece, fifty years later:<br />
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<b>“Face to Face” – Amon Kotei . Oil on Canvas, 20” x 35”. 1975</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nzuk-pmOiQjWWpm-KH0t2sC12lk852I_qEIo8fNMvkB3NnLM7MWP2ugFancDzHRRSpbC1pP5O0rQTIa4r1c0wOVFV9j_dNkedGLxKDTwAcG-Wbx7cTRwnARIrmlAB_lqG50QCfjtzMVy/s1600/Face+to+Face+-A.+Kotei.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Nzuk-pmOiQjWWpm-KH0t2sC12lk852I_qEIo8fNMvkB3NnLM7MWP2ugFancDzHRRSpbC1pP5O0rQTIa4r1c0wOVFV9j_dNkedGLxKDTwAcG-Wbx7cTRwnARIrmlAB_lqG50QCfjtzMVy/s640/Face+to+Face+-A.+Kotei.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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</span></u></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">At the countdown from 50 to 50, I decided to write about a painting by the man who designed the Ghana coat of arms, Amon Kotei.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">It is a painting called “Face to Face”. It is a composition of two perhaps Ga women meeting face to face.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The two women fill up the painting and taking over the fore and middle grounds of the painting. As if they are almost giants; taking up the space on the left side of the painting and the other positioned on the right. In the middle of the composition is the space that divides the two women but that space carries the tension and weight of this meeting. The sky complements this brewing. In that space we get to find out what it is they are discussing and hopefully where a solution will amount. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> At their backs with heavy oil brushstrokes of mainly yellow , the viewer is reminded of the blazing sun these two women are sitting in. Oranges are also used to complement the sunshine, while light shades of blue in the background represents the sky behind them. The greens in strokes are a reminder of the trees and vegetation behind the two women.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 166.5pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The woman on the left is dressed similarly to the woman on the right, in a head scarf and a sleeveless casual\market woman like top with her overcloth covering her from the waist below. Although she is almost certainly wearing a skirt underneath it too. Her headscarf is dominated by blue making her seem peaceful. The colour blue also dominates the left side of her body. The red colour visible on her back seems to be more like a reflection of the sun and a colour in top, rather than a representation of her temper. Kotei also uses the tone of red as a base for her dark skin because it is normally so. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The overcloth of the woman on the left is seen as blue on the right appears as green on the left; again making her appear calmer than the other woman sitting opposite her. Her posture also reflects this; her shoulders are relaxed and both hands are resting on her thighs with the right one hanging down loosely in the air. The look on her face compliments her posture because although she seems to be a little heated up, she appears friendlier and there is a willingness to listen. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Both women are large in size but in Ghanaian culture it should be expected for their age , between their forties and fifties. Kotei uses rounded brushstrokes and a slight variation of colours to draw, define and give tone to the anatomy of the two women; an example being the arm of the lady on the left. The roundness\thickness of the strokes of colour show the viewer the texture of the woman’s skin. It is slightly worn and a little loose but it still has the elasticity expected of black skin. Also their forearms are of toned tough skin; developed through days of spending more time in the sun than usual. A bit like an old fisherman’s skin but not as tough. Their hands are large and useful. They appear as hardworking women and their strong anatomy helps them perform their everyday roles well. The faces of the women especially the one on the right, has the sheen and smoothness of black skin. Perhaps of Ga origin she harbours signs of a fair skinned Ga woman. Both women’s faces show brilliant bone structures and a natural beauty that is still visible at their age; common Ghana not always so in non-African cultures. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In this face to face meeting the right placed woman looks like she has something to bare off her chest. Her posture is one we can associate with people of African origin all around the world, this includes her nose up in the air, her hands are on her hips and all over although she is in a yellow top, there are tones of red reflected all over her body. On her overcloth, Kotei uses lines of colour including browns, greens, dark blues and yellow to define the folds in her cloth which crawls up her lower back. The woman is angry about something. This leaves the viewer to wonder what this “Face to Face” meeting is about. Is it a family feud that needs to be resolved?, is it because the other lady thinks is not good enough for hers?, is it because one has taken the others market space or one borrowed money from the other and it has not being paid back? The stage has been set for us to decide but whatever these two women have met about they look ready to resolve their problem. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">This painting can be criticised for not being simple enough for the eye because of the great variation of colours everywhere and also the background could have been more realistic like that of a classic landscape. A few Ghanaian artists lately have taken on this style of background but made it lazy by placing any colour in the background almost to make it disappear and at times leaves their subject in thin air, which does not compliment the painting. Kotei on the other hand, his background is a little more detailed than that. And his dominant space as said before is taken up by tension. </span></div><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">As we are in the countdown from 50 to 50 let Kotei remind us to face our problems, conquer them, move on to make ourselves and nation better and also greater. We can do so verbally with peaceful action, just like the two women who with effort met face to face to solve their problem. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12pt;">There is more to come on Amon Kotei. </span>Anyama Buabenghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01082774262023175223noreply@blogger.com0