Ghana debuts at Venice Biennale

Ghana is making its debut appearance at the Venice Biennale with a bang. This first outing, will feature different generations of artists.

They include the world-famous Nigerian-based Ghanaian artist, El Anatsui, Ibrahim Mahama, Selasi Awusi Sosu, Felicia Abban, John Akomfrah, David Adjaye and Lynette Yiadom-Boakye.

The exhibition, which will be curated by the Ghanaian art historian and filmmaker Nana Oforiatta Ayim is entitled ‘Ghana Freedom,’ a tag inspired by E.T. Mensah’s 1957 hit song released on the eve of the country’s independence.

Architect David Adjaye will be designing the exhibition pavilion located at the Arsenale exhibition site of the Biennale, while renowned Nigerian curator, Okwui Enwezor, is strategic adviser.

This maiden outing is expected to showcase the country as a cultural powerhouse on the global stage.

According to Ayim in a statement, the outing is a moment of particular importance to Africa as a continent.

She said, “The conversation about nations is broadening in the face of issues of migrations; of us redefining our connections to our diasporas throughout our ‘year of return;’ of discussing what it might mean to have our cultural objects returned, and how we thus might redefine ourselves in the world; and of finally moving out of the ‘postcolonial’ moment into one we have yet to envision.”

Adjaye’s design will consist of an elliptical shaped, interconnected spaces plastered with locally sourced earth from classical structures in Ghana.

Anatsui and Mahama will showcase large installations. There will be portraiture by Ghana’s first professional female photographer, Felicia Abban, and by painter Yiadom-Boakye. Akomfrah will display a three-channel film projection. Sosu, an emerging artist will show a video sculpture.