Contemporary societies are inextricably entangled in the turbulence of the global climate crisis. From devastating storms to oppressive heat waves, no region of the planet is immune to these phenomena, including Africa, which has contributed the least to the origins of climate disruption. In a show of solidarity in the face of this capricious climate, contemporary artists have joined forces to present the collective exhibition “After Life”. Currently on show until September 11 at the Nubuke Foundation in Ghana, this art exhibition symbolizes the participating artists’ commitment to improving global climate conditions.
The “After Life” exhibition brings together a host of artists, including notable WOORI festival participants. Among the talented contemporary actors committed through art to mitigating the consequences of climate disruption are Alice Raymond, the Daboya community, Esther Owusu, Fatric Bewong, Frederick Bamfo, Gideon Hanyame and Katesi Jacqueline Kalange.
At the heart of a global landscape marked by the paradoxes of abundance and depletion, the innovative work of Fatric Bewong, Gideon Hanyame and Frederick Bamfo highlights the transformation of discarded or recycled materials, offering an inspiring artistic and environmental perspective.
Through her artistic practice, Fatric Bewong transforms elements considered as waste into the basic materials for her works, illustrating the artistic value of recovery and encouraging everyone to rethink the use of elements present in our environment.
Gideon Hanyame takes an in-depth exploratory approach, exploring the multiple uses of a material to reveal the stories buried within. By highlighting the various qualities of a specific object, he invites the public to interact with it in multiple ways, prompting reflection on our relationship with the materials that surround us.
For Frederick Bamfo, giving new life to discarded materials by integrating them into the design of his architectural installations is at the heart of his artistic approach. By creating prefabricated structures in situ from discarded objects, he invites visitors to explore an audacious collection, while creating spaces conducive to community exchange and performance. His unusual creations, while environmentally friendly and innovative, aim to stimulate conversations about power, identity and their influence on our interactions.
As for Alice Raymond, her art underscores the urgency of the climate crisis, highlighting the need for swift action in the face of current environmental challenges. Through her visual representations of Ghanaian environmental patterns over several decades, she declares a state of emergency, proposing woven sculptures that seem to map both the resilience and vulnerability of Polialthia and Neem trees to man’s destructive actions. Emphasizing that while the climate emergency is not uniquely African, Africa holds the solutions, she invites reflection on the potential responses the continent can bring to this global crisis.
Through her photographs documenting her installation at Loho of Badere, Katesi Jacqueline Kalange makes a valuable contribution to the response to the climate emergency. Drawing on the stories and practices of the Dagaaba people, she highlights a history-based approach to the current environmental challenges and planetary limits we face.
Creating a balanced ecosystem is not just about the environment, but also about building equitable societies. The approach to work adopted by the Daboya community and Esther Owusu’s use of rattan shavings as a base material underline the importance of the people involved in the artistic process, inviting reflection on the value of the work and materials used in artistic creation. Placing the individuals involved in artistic creation at the center rather than marginalizing them is an invitation to rethink our relationship to work and the environment in the fight against the climate crisis.
The contemporary artists taking part in the “After Life” exhibition address the causes of the current climate crisis, such as resource extraction, unbridled consumption and exploitation, while proposing perspectives on the transformations needed to build a healthy, sustainable world for future generations. Their work invites reflection on the actions we can take right now for a more viable and balanced future.
