Developed in 1998 to promote Ghanian contemporary visual arts, the Accra Visual Arts week returns after a 20-year pause this year with exhibitions slated for five venues from April 4 to April 11, 2023.
We cannot dispute the fact that people in the modern era have already forgotten the importance of arts and culture due to the highly digitalised era we’ve fallen into. It has mitigated the impact of the arts and culture from the lives of the common people. Through events like Arts and Culture week, people can have a golden opportunity to learn something new regarding arts and culture. Moreover, it also improves creative ability and encourages social interaction during this week.
AVIEW was created to promote contemporary art as well as its appreciation and enjoyment by Accra residents. This year’s edition promises to be an inspiring, enlightening affair considering the calibre of artists involved; Painters Mark Buku, James Cudjoe and Hacajaka, photographers Brooks Anne Robinson and Isaac Vanderpuije, unique hangings specialist, Patrick Tagoe-Turkson and several others. The Accra visual artists week will also feature the diversity of works which are organised by the Pinnacle Arts Centre in collaboration with the Konyo Museum of Ghanaian Art.
Venues hosting the exhibitions are the African University College of Communications (AUCC) at Adabraka, Dei Centre at Tesano, Deo Gratias Photo Studio at James Town, Furnat at Nyaniba Estates, Osu and the Pinnacle Arts Centre at Dzorwulu, all in Accra.
The week-long programme opens at the Pinnacle Arts Centre with new paintings by Ghainan artist, Hacajaka whose latest works promises to surprise his audience. What he has for show at the Pinnacle Arts Centre are a progression of ideas some of which appeared in some of his works around 1996 but which have been refreshed and taken in completely new directions. The artist ever eager to embrace change and he has done so in a bold manner with his new series of paintings.
Painter Mark Buku, photographer Brooks Anne Robinson and Patrick Tagoe-Turkson, known for his magnificent creations with discarded flip flops (chale wote) will have their works displayed at the AUCC: African University College of Communications.
Buku’s works touch on both ends of the art spectrum –representation and abstraction. He expresses himself in watercolour, oil, acrylics and recycled materials. Brooks Anne Robinson tells simple, pleasant stories by capturing ordinary people living ordinary lives with her lenses. Patrick Tagoe-Turkson makes intricate hangings from old chale wote and compares his work technique to that of the kente weaver.
The Dei Centre, Tesano will show paintings and sculptures by various artists and the Deo Gratias Photo Studio at James Town will have works from pioneering photographer, Isaac Vanderpuije, for the public to see. Furnat at Nyaniba Estates, Osu will exhibit works by the Takoradi-born James Cudjoe.
