The Mirror's Health , Lifestyle and Fashion
An artswriter at Nubuke
This young lady’s presentation of an exhibition at Nubuke Foundation is mouthwatering. Meanwhile, another exhibition, ‘Up to No Good’, by Na Chainkua Reindorf is set to open this weekend at the East Legon Art House.
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Alberta writes: Off Lome Street, there is Lome Close and there is Nubuke Foundation (Okponglo East Legon). In the bosom of the outstanding gallery architecture is the ongoing LA FEMINITÉ DU M.A.L.E Art Exhibition by four Togolese Visual artists. Vraiement! Togo etait arrivé au Lomé. (Togo has come to Lome).
LA FEMINITÉ DU M.A.L.E exhibition explores feminine art works through the male gaze. M.A.LE is, however, the abbreviation of the names of the four exhibiting artists: Metsoko Yao, Azankpo Tete, Laka, and Emmanuel Sogbadji.
The art pieces deploy different media for expression, usually from the common household tools used by African women and Togolese women, especially. These creations give that domestic homey attraction to the works.
In these exhibition, things are not what they seem. Just like the roles of women and women themselves, some of the artworks look sublime but powerful on second and third looks , especially when one’s eyes are drawn to the talismans on some of the pieces, then one will know: Kpekpelekpekpeme- Power surpasses power (New Eʋe word I learnt from my Ga friend).
The Egungun/ Zangbetor (Benin and Togo) inspired-pieces which feature four works in the series explores the power of women using the Egungun dress and performance as a metaphor. The egungun is a Yoruba (or those with Yoruba heritage) spiritual expression of the protection of the community against evil by the ancestors through a medium. Men normally act as Zangbetor / Egungun but in these works, women carry the double or triple power of women, men and the spiritual. That comes with added burden also their heads even are buried in the clothes and performance with only their hands to show.
This movement relates to the paintings in Accra by Afuabe, immortalising Ghanaian and African women- using the egungun. Some of these murals by Afuabe can be found at the Ako Adjei Circle, on the Independence Avenue of Accra.
Metsoko also explores movements of women in Togo and the difficulties they go through sometimes. Buxom women with heavy backsides seated on Zemidjans; Take me fast (Commercial motorcycles in Togo) with no helmets exposing them to danger. Their strength and optimism while going through life is fully captured in these vibrant paintings.
If you haven’t seen the multi-coloured enamel bowls in your grandmother or great grandmother’s wealth, then you haven’t fully explored under her bed. Azankpo, himself a photographer, creates these portraits of people from diverse backgrounds using pieces from these floral patterned bowls and other household items.
Man, know thyself is a popular saying, and LAKA, using wood goes deeper into the souls of his women (women subjects, to be precise). And he couldn’t have used a better medium than wood. Fresh from nature- mother earth, LAKA captures his women in deep meditation, deep cleansing of body and soul- calabashes, talismans and all.
La Feminite du MALE is not just an opportunity for these West African artists to exhibit to a Ghanaian audience but also for Ghanaians to appreciate the thoughts and lives of their African brothers and neighbours in Togo.
These four gentlemen, Metsoko Yao, Azankpo Tete, Laka, and Emmanuel Sogbadji really brought some sunshine to the art scene of Ghana’s capital.
Remember when you are going to Nigeria to fight your jollof war, you will need to pass through Togo on one of Metsoko’s Zéms while munching on some "sokoo" sakomi to satisfy your hunger enroute to the jollof battle in Lagos.