Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art Tamale (SCCA) and Red Clay Studios has opened an exhibition in celebration of Agyeman Osei with a retrospective of his works dating back from when he started doing art.
The exhibition, Akutia: Blindfolding the Sun and the Poetics of Peace (A Retrospective of Agyeman Ossei ‘Dota’), co-curated by Adwoa Amoah, Kwasi Ohene-Ayeh, and Tracy Naa Koshie Thompson was opened in two folds at SCCA Tamale on 4th September and Red Clay Studios on 5th September 2020.
The recent opening of the much anticipated Akutia Art Exhibition saw people of diverse fields attend. Amidst the global Coronavirus pandemic, the attendance was amazing. From fine artistes to fashion designers. From art lovers to photographers. From traditional leaders to tourists and students alike, almost everyone was at the opening.
Speaking on the Art Exhibition, Ms. Mahamuda said it was necessary to attend the event since fine art and clothing & textiles go together. She said she was amazed by how people have embraced the event and how its organizers have been able to put up such an amazing craft.
Theresa Ankomah who was also present said she came to Tamale purposely for the Exhibition, even though she had been to Tamale twice or thrice. She said Ibrahim’s efforts give her hope for being able to open up such a big space for art.
Theresa also expressed her happiness about the fact that despite the many people who took part to make the exhibition successful, Ibrahim was been able to recognize the efforts of everyone, no matter how meager their contribution.
The work that was exhibited included paintings, sculptures, and animations. Akutia translates literally as sarcasm. In the concept of the art, Akutia is coined to use art to draw humor through poetic and proverbial expressions. The Akutia art exhibition is a retrospective of the life’s work of Agyeman Osei (Dota).
Engrossed in arts, the artist’s style of work includes translating Akan proverbs, idioms, legends, myths, etc. into paintings, theatre plays, animations, and sculptures. Agyemang Osei tries to explain everyday expressions into comprehensible forms through his paintings and other arts. He tells his own life story and experience through art.
The exhibition which is set to be running until March 2021, will see people troop in from all parts of the country and beyond. Speaking to the audience at the opening of the exhibition, Dr. Agyeman revealed that, his mum conceived him in Tamale and coming back to Tamale after several years to do an art exhibition especially a retrospective of his works is a humble feeling and he is grateful for such opportunity.
