The Virtual Museum for Contemporary African Art and the Art Lending Foundation Amsterdam present five contemporary artists from Ghana:
The distorted heads of Frank Asomani, the colourful musicians of Larry Otoo, the exuberant paintings of Kofi Agorsor, the more restrained work on paper from Glen Turner and the directness of Kofi Setordji's wooden and metal sculptures give a good impression of the crème de la crème of contemporary art from Ghana.

Monique Held from the Art Lending Foundation (SBK) Amsterdam selected the artists. She travelled to Accra together with Rhoda Woets from Foundation Africaserver to compose the exhibition. Within a short time, they visited many artists, ateliers and galleries. Consternation arose when they found out middleman and ex-major of Accra Nat Nuno Amarteifio asked the participating artists 20% commission behind their back.

After the selection, the real work began. They spend days at the airport, walking up and down till Monique and Rhoda, surrounded by half Accra, left the valuable artworks in hesitation behind. Thanks to their daily boost of pineapple juice and the help of their "auntie" Emily Asiedu, they survived all the tropical adventures. To their relief the artworks arrived safely at the Amsterdam airport.

The paintings and sculptures that have been bought by the Art Lending Foundation Amsterdam can be seen from June 7th till June 30th in the impressing TramHall on the Bellamysquare in Amsterdam. The exhibition was opened on the 7th of June in presence of the participating artists. On June 9th the artists were part of a seminar in the studio of Africaserver were they discussed the art climate in Ghana and the importance of Internet for artists who live in Africa.




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Artworks from the exhibition:
http://www.sbk.nl

Article on contemporary art from Ghana:
http://www.ghana300holland.nl

General information on Africa and Ghana:
http://www.africaserver.nl

June 2002

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