COVID-19 has stalled and slowed the art scene but life still goes on.
That seems to be what the Colombian Ambassador, Ms Claudia Turbay, and her staff are saying as they rolled off an Exhibition of Pictorial Art this week.
Dubbed: “Abstract and Surrealistic View of the World”, the event which is hosted in the residence of the ambassador features three sensational Ghanaian artistes.
Kelvin Ansong, Philip Kumah and Steven Planche have put up an expressly commanding exhibition where they showcase their talent and creative capacities.
At the opening, Ms Turbay said there was so much to celebrate among the people of the two countries.
In 2021, in particular, they are pursuing a Cultural Agenda with a focus on tourism, gastronomy and art.
“We want to highlight the bond of brotherhood we have with Ghana and Africa in general, through the best wealth of our countries which is our people and our Afro root,” she said.
Patronising the event are a cross-section of society, including businessmen, academics, artists, members of the diplomatic corps and students.
In the art display itself, the works of the three have been curated and displayed in a pattern that exudes their synergies.
Kelvin Agyepong Kwaku Ansong, is obsessed with ‘potential’ and skilfully uses his paintings to show a link between the source and destination of resources.
As an inspiring African creative fine artist, Kelvin aims to shed light on societal issues through his art.
His flair for distinct geometric shapes and curves to create abstract, landscapes, wildlife and portrait pieces are breathtaking.
Kelvin, whose father is also a visual artist, believes in the visual depiction of emotions as another way to grasp the complexity of human nature; hence, the creation of ‘kescorism’ which is his main art style.
He has artworks such as true colours, the journey of life, overcoming life, time flies, redemption and many more.
He has held countless exhibitions in places such as Alisa Hotel, The British Council, Keteke Art and Craft, Charlewote, Defia Art Gallery, German-Swiss International School, Alliance Francaise (Spoken Exhibition), Impact Hub and Native Bar.
The largest canvasses at the exhibition come from Philip Kumah who specialises in abstract painting, realism, portraiture and collage using waste African fabrics which are collected from tailors and seamstresses.
Sustainability and an ecologically balanced world are important to this artist no wonder he utilises recycled fabric pieces in a hundred stylised ways.
The fashion-conscious Philip has images that are influenced by the Ashanti and Akyem cultures and the motifs in his artworks represent traditional root, as well as his life experience in Ghana.
His source of inspiration is based on women, the environment, music and history.
Philip has exhibited works at artists Alliance Gallery and the Centre for National Art and Culture all in Accra.
Some of his works are also displayed at The Ford Foundation Centre for Social Justice and Gallery in New York, United States.
His current intention is to promote recycling and exhibit his works across the world.
His repertoire includes IMAGINATION (group) – 2016, private exhibition for President Frank Walter Steinmier of Germany (group) – 2017 and Art on the horizon (group) – 2017. Others are Ghana @60 (group) – 2017.
And Welcome exhibition for the Prince of Wales. (Group) – 2018.
The art works with the whitest background come from the fingertips of Steven Planche from Bordeaux in France, but with mixed origins from Ivorian and Mauritian.
He has been shuttling between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire since 2004.
Primary colours are important to planche and he deploys them judiciously against a white background which grabs your attention.
Planche has said he creates a little abstract universe with his own symbols that appear in all his paintings.
Every piece is unique and is carries a message.
His style, I believe, will sit very well with children too.
He is obviously a nature lover and draws birds; playfully associating them with abstract faces.
But for this artist who experienced a health issue years back, painting is a source of escape.
“It helped me to free my mind and created a real passion inside me, which grows every single day,” he said.
Please visit this exhibition before it closes in two weeks.
It opens every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., with strict observation of the COVID-19 safety protocol.
Bring the children along, please.
