Ghanaian International artist, Ibrahim Mahama last week spoke at the World Around Architecture Conference 2020. He centered his talk about his work, what influences the kind of art he does and also his dreams of seeing spaces in his homeland where artists will have spaces to showcase their work.
Ibrahim Mahama whose work is mostly a political statement is influenced by his environment. He talks of his love for old decaying objects and buildings that have been abandoned which he uses for his works. For instance, the National Theatre in Ghana where he rapped the whole building with old jute sack telling the stories of the labour force. Another use of old objects is the Ghost Parliament in Manchester, where he used old seats from the train and also parliament of Ghana old seats to create the space.
According to Ibrahim Mahama he seems to do art that looks out of place. To him, the art you do should challenge the very premise that art is built.
Back in his homeland, Ibrahim Mahama is giving art a new meaning. In 2014 he started building spaces and the outcome is Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art. This building is meant to showcase the work of artists in the 20th century who never had the opportunity to showcase their work because our society did not have spaces where artists could be recognized for their work.
Centre also houses a library that is open for the general public. Workshop, painting, drawing and other activities do happen at the center. These spaces he is building he says is to give children a new perspective of what art should be and also how the world operates.
On why he builds the spaces in community deemed to be out of town and not enlightened, Ibrahim Mahama says that people are not dumb. They just need the opportunity as well and besides, his work is for the community.
