Nubuke hosts ‘Re-Birth’ exhibition
At the Nubuke Foundation tucked in a quiet corner of East Legon in Accra, an exhibition that denotes an important development on the visual art front in this country is going on.
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Themed Re-Birth, the exhibition features 40 paintings by members of the art group called P.A.I.N.T (Practising Artists International) and a good friend of theirs, Wiz Kudowor. P.A.I.N.T comprises Nii T Mills, Seth Clottey and Kofi Nduro.
The Nubuke exhibition is the third collective showing for the group and it has come after almost 10 years since their last showing.
Their first two exhibitions were held at the National Theatre and The Loom, both in Accra, respectively.
P.A.I.N.T was started in 2002 and it went into a limbo after the exhibition at The Loom in 2003. The Re-Birth theme of the Nubuke show is therefore to signify the coming together again of the artists.
Kofi Setordji, an artist himself and a director at Nubuke who curated the exhibition, said his outfit decided to support the artists not in their individual rights but because they had seen reason to re-unite and work.
Nubuke is supporting the Re-Birth exhibition with space, preparation and printing of brochures and publicity.
“From history, we realize that artists always work in groups and we found the idea that the three artists approached us as P.A.I.N.T laudable because that is how artists learn from each other and develop,” Setordji said.
“As an artist myself, I do not believe in this thing about big organisations for artists because artists will never fully identify with such arrangements. They usually prefer small groups where can work closely together.”
The best known example of Ghanaian artists coming together in a group to work is the Akwapim Six which included the late great Dr. Oku Ampofo.
Reference is made also to another group which came later called Images. That was a vibrant collective made up of Wiz Kudowor, Mike Amon- Kwafo, Olando Baeta and Sami Bentil. Another group formed after Images was Studio Club that included Kofi Nduro, Danny Manford, Nii T Mills and Ben Agbenyegah.
Nii T Mills says the essence of artists working in groups is to afford the opportunity to genuinely criticize each other and be each other’s keeper.
“We cherish being together it is a great feeling to exhibit again under the P.A.I.N.T name. Other artists are welcome to join us so long as they are ready to abide by our rules and regulations,” Nii T Mills said.
Another P.A.I.N.T member, Seth Clottey said now that they had re-activated the group, he hoped they would exhibit regularly here and abroad.
Kofi Nduro also said being in a group is not a competition against each other but rather motivation to do one’s best. He was hopeful they would not be silent for so long again.
Wiz Kudowor is part of the exhibition because though not a member of the group, he constantly urged the three friends to re-unite.
All the works on show are rendered in oil or acrylic on canvas. The four artists have distinctive styles and they are all known on the visual art landscape in this country.
Kofi Nduro has 12 works on show. Among the most striking in his collection is the trekking trilogy: Sahel Trekking;Trekking Through the Woods and Women In Trek.
They show women walking on a variety of terrain and he says he was inspired by his rural background where women were often seen carrying loads on their heads and walking long distances, to come up with those works.
Nii T Mills flirts with different subject matters in his seven works on show. Neighbourhood reflects a built-up urban area and it is distinctly different from the still life painting called Aqua Blossom.
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The calmness reflected in Aqua Blossom is also very different from the market scene trilogy of Della Advertises, Della Negotiates and Della Smiles.
Seth Clottey grew up at La in Accra and some of his works 13 works at Nubuke now depict beach activity. He, however, has some monochrome paintings on show. According to him, such works in monochrome had always appealed to him and he decided to try his hands at some of them.
Wiz has the most abstract renditions on show. His eight works showcase a master with colour and forms.
The Re-Birth exhibition opened on July 20. It closes on August 30.
By Kouame Koulibaly / Daily Graphic / Ghana
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