Visual artist Caleb Kumashie visits Gallery Soview's latest exhibition in Accra and shares his thoughts on the works of five grant recipients and tells us how their art inspires his own.
Gallery Soview's group exhibition: ‘I Can See Everything You Can Be’ opened to the public on 27 September and runs until 10 November at 13 Mulberry Street, East Legon.
The showcase is a celebration of five Ghanaian artists that were recipients of the 2024 Africa Prime Initiative (API)/Gallery Soview grant.
If you've been following our AKADi Magazine content, you'll know we've been profiling the five artists over recent months. They are:
Elroy Salam - a photographer and video artist, who delves into the complexities of the human experience, navigating themes of spirituality, the environment and identity.
Baahwa - known for her evocative photography and storytelling, explores beauty norms, discrimination against minorities, and empowerment of marginalised communities in her project ‘Dear Woman’.
Mary-Jo Adjetey - a multidisciplinary artist, blends traditional and digital media to create installations and multi-sensory experiences that tell a story through art. Her recent project, ‘Sit By The Fireside’, was on show at the ‘Echoes of Ghana’ exhibition in December 2023.
Dela Quarshie - a contemporary artist, creates anthropomorphic figures using acrylic on canvas and 3-D acrylic paint to explore identity, transformation, and mental health.
Emmanuel Afriyie Arthur - a painter and sculptor, addresses social issues through his thought-provoking works inspired by Ghana’s economically deprived areas.
Ahead of the exhibition, Emmanuel told Abena at AKADi Magazine that the artwork he was due to exhibit would be made entirely from recycled hard plastics and were a representation of some of the children he encountered when he visited these communities like Tafo Zongo and Ayigya Zongo in Kumasi.
He told AKADi Magazine: “In my previous works, (created using bleach and dyes), I addressed how these children are often unfairly perceived as the "bad apples" in society, despite their remarkable ability to craft intriguing objects from seemingly worthless materials, purely for the joy of it.”
Caleb got to see the final pieces from Emmanuel and said his scrap art and bleach painting on cloth left a lasting impression.
"The pieces innovative use of materials, texture, and colour resonated deeply," said Caleb. "The intricate details and symbolism woven into the artwork sparked introspection about identity, culture, and the human experience."
Caleb also got to see Baahwa's photography. He said: "Baahwa shared insights into her photographic process, emphasising the importance of storytelling and capturing authentic moments."
"The exhibition inspired me to experiment with unconventional materials and techniques. Witnessing the success of Emmanuel's scrap art encouraged me to push boundaries in my own creative process," Caleb said.
"I've learnt to appreciate the value of texture, layering, and symbolism in art. Going forward, I plan to incorporate more mixed-media elements and explore themes of identity and cultural heritage.
"Gallery Soview offers a unique opportunity for Ghanaians to engage with thought-provoking, locally-created art."
"By visiting galleries like this, we are helping to support emerging artists, encouraging creative dialogue, gaining new perspectives, and witnessing the country's talented artists pushing boundaries.
The funding is part of an initiative launched by the Africa Prime Initiative (API), the philanthropic arm of US-based video streaming platform Africa Prime, and Accra-based contemporary art space Gallery Soview.
Find out more about Caleb here.
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