Kolomentality / Photo Exhibition + ArtTalk
by Henry Obimpeh
@thestudioaccra
Thursday October 5, 2017
7:30 PM sharp
Free!!!
Ankara also known as “African prints” or “mummy cloth”, although a legacy of colonialism over time has become a symbol of Africa (particularly the west and central parts) scholars can’t really point of place who or how the colourful fabric found it’s way into Africa. however in the case of Ghana, Ghanaian soldiers who served in the Royal Dutch East-Indian Army during the first world war in some colonies in present day Indonesia are credited for first bringing them to Ghana.
Wax print like most other fabrics in Ghana have names, attached to these names are associated stories and sayings. Ghana like most parts of Africa relies heavily on oral history. Our fathers before us left records of our history and culture in the form of names, sayings, proverbs, and stories.
Kolomentality series is inspired by the attributes of Ankara fabrics. Some of the works are metaphorical for things that are not African in origin but has been espoused by us (voluntary or imposed).Whilst others cover Socio-cultural and political topics looking at the retrospective, contemporary and future.
Artist Bio:
Henry Elvis Obimpeh is a visual artist who uses mixed media; mostly photography and fabric to create his art. He holds an MA in Film and Photography from the University of Derby, Derbyshire, UK and a BA in Visual Communication from the African University College of Communications (AUCC), Ghana.
For the past six years Henry has worked extensively with fabric. Some of Henry’s major projects are “KENTE: The Grandeur of our Heritage” (photo-book) and “Stereotypes: A closer look at the Bandana” a social project (photo-book). He has also had a photo exhibition in Derby for his ‘Blind Vision’ series.