Name/Title
Ghana FreedomDescription
Introduction:
It is a mark of our maturity as a nation that we are one of only six African countries present among the 90 participating nations at the 58th International Art Exhibition-La Biennale di Venezia, Ghana has always been a pioneer of the African continent, blazing a trail of independence, creativity, and accountability.
Our country was born 62 years ago as a result of the toil of the founding fathers and of the everyday men and women of our country. Culture and creativity have always been at its foundation, and at its core.
From the majestic kente and Adinkra designs of the past, to the early pioneers such as Kofi Antubam and Theodosia Okoh and others like them, to the powerful, present-day artists whose work can be seen in this exhibition, Ghanaian artists are scaling the heights of creative power, both at home and on the international stage.
Art and culture serve as a mirror to a nation's growth. Creativity creates the openness of mind and the innovation necessary for us to move forward. A nation without regard for its culture is like a tree with no roots, and no branches to stretch forth.
During the past several years we have seen a flowering of creativity and innovation that matches the early energy and optimism at the beginning of our independence. At home through trailblazers such as Joelle Eyeson, Ibrahim Mahama, Shirley Frimpong-Manso, Shatta Wale, and Christie Brown; and abroad through the successes of Sir David Adjaye, Taiye Selasi, Edward Enninful, Lynette Yiadom-Boakye, and Virgil Abloh-to name but a few-creative Ghanaians are having an impact on the global stage.
What we are experiencing is what in the future may be looked back upon as a Golden Age of Ghanaian creativity, a time in which our efforts to move beyond our boundaries were matched in all spheres: political, economic, social, and cultural. As in all creative endeavors, these efforts will of necessity meet with setbacks as well as the inevitable successes, both of which will lead to our country's growth.
Our presence here at the 58th International Art Exhibition-La Biennale di Venezia marks a watershed in this growth, a moment in which the pinnacle of our creative talents, both at home and abroad, come together to combine and strengthen their individual outputs into a collective, resounding expression and questioning of our present moment, our present place in the world, so that we may look on and move forward with the utmost grace and possibility.