GAVA pays tribute to Independence era visual artists
An exhibition in honour of visual artists who made significant contributions to national development and the attainment of independence for this country, has opened at the Centre for National Culture in Accra.
Organised by the Greater Accra branch of the Ghana Association of Visual Artists (GAVA GA), the exhibition contains 50 works by 25 members of the branch and themed ‘Independence Day 2020 –Since 1957.’ Several of the participants are up-and coming artists but there also some established names in the pack.
Advertisement
Speaking at the opening of the exhibition, the Chairman of GAVA GA, John Nii Ayi Akwetey Hyde, said visual artists like Theodosia Okoh, Amon Kotei, Kofi Antubam, Saka Acquaye, Kobina Bucknor, Saka Acquaye, Oku Amofo and others helped to shape this country with their abilities and the exhibition was to celebrate them.
“Their designs of the Coat of Arms, presidential mace, national flag, presidential seat and other significant contributions, stand them out as heroes in our sight. That’s why we have dedicated the first edition of our Independence Day exhibition to them,” the GAVA GA Chairman said.
GAVA was formed about 30 years ago by a group of friends with a common love for visual arts. The founders included art curators, art patrons, art teachers, as well as a variety of visual art practitioners. Membership embraces sculptors, ceramists, painters, textile and graphic designers, installation artists, jewelers, performance artists, bead designers and all other endeavours which fall under visual art.
GAVA GA believes its contribution to the national quest to change people’s disinterest in law, order, beauty and general respect for the environment is to help imbue the citizenry with love for colour, harmony, shape, rhythm, balance and all the rest of the elements of art and design.
Nana Fredua-Agyeman Ofori-Atta, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Theatre of Ghana, was the Guest of Honour at the opening of the exhibition. He congratulated GAVA GA for putting the event together and said it was a big sign of appreciation to our pioneering visual artists.
“By staging this event, you are saying that you appreciate our past. That is a positive move. It is not only historians that must tell our story. Artists must also tell our story. We have had great moments and good things in this country but because we don’t tell stories about those things, young people now think life started from when they could speak.
“When we talk about the wonderful people who helped fight for this country in their various ways, when we know about what has been done before, then the young people of today would want to explore new avenues and do new useful things,” Nana Ofori-Atta pointed out.
He described the works on show, paintings and sculptural pieces as being of the highest international standard and said he believed they would be appreciated anywhere in the world. The exhibition runs till March 19.