A contemporary Art exhibition organized by the association of painting students of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and technology, Kumasi,Ghana and the artists' League.

1. NEST EYE EXHIBITION 2011
KNUST MUSEUM, KUMASI
November 21st – 27th
KNUST MUSEUM
REVIEW BY CURATORS:
Michael Sarkodie Addo
Afari-Danso
Exhibition team:
Michael Babanawo, Carboo Hartog, Emefa Sabina, Derrick Manu Acheampong, Agodza Solomon, Kwaku Ampadu
In collaboration with the department of painting and sculpture and the Artists’ League [TAL], The NEST EYE
Exhibition 2011, organized by the Association of Painting Students[APS] was a highly successful event which
platformed the contemporary art of several students of the college of art of the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology, Kumasi in Ghana. The NEST EYE with the theme ‘Illuminations; enlightenment
through Art’, sought to encourage artist and the general public imbibe a contextual and idealistic approach to
contemporary Art of Africa and also promote contemporary art of emerging artists.
Putting together a range of multi-generational group of Artist, writers, critiques and more from the college,
the exhibition presented not just thought provoking artworks but also issues that continues to be discussed on
what art really is in this era of contemporary Art.
Starting with a forum which provided a discourse on the topic;
The creation of the Ghanaian contemporary Art: the role of the first generation artist.
The Audiences were educated on the Ghanaian art scene, the difference elsewhere around the world and the
way forward for more advancement in our art practice.
Speakers were: Mr. Michael Sowah [ Dei Center, assisting Curator, Accra ]
Dr. Karikacha Seidou [lecturer, College of Art, KNUST, Kumasi ]

3. The exhibition also had a seminar session for some attendance throughout the days it
was opened and people were educated on what contemporary art is.
A number of high schools were also invited and given seminars as well.

4. SOME PARTICIPATING ARTIST AND THEIR ARTWORKS
IBRAHIM MOHAMMED
Installation
Ibrahim explores ideas of identity, migration and others through his installation pieces. Mostly
works with plaster of Paris[POP] where he cast his figures into life sizes accompanied by any
other thing that communicate his ideas well to him. He is currently reading an MFA Painting
programme at the college of Art, KNUST.

5. DESMOND YOUNAYEL
[Medium: Acrylic, Canvas]
Desmond questions issues of technology and its impact on mankind through his works.
By superimposing the circuit board design on a human figure, he looks at the not far fetch future where
technology would irresistibly become part of mankind and questions its prospects.
He works in acrylic on canvas and also is into video installations.
AGODZA SOLOMON
[Medium: Acrylic, Canvas]
Artist Statement.
I paint to express my intention and feeling about society. My pursuit is on addressing societal and universal
issues that gets my attention. In this regard my work sprung through politics, economics, religion and
social issues that ruin humanity. These painting revisit issues of stereotypes about African ideals of beauty.
It is interesting to note that most of the elements of beauty run through cultures, traditions and
indigenous religion. I tackle such issues in my works to project the dynamism of culture and its evolution,
to question people’s notion about African traditions, culture and customs which has evolved over time.

6. SABINA KALEKU EMEFA
Reflections of a Pantomime
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas, beads, fabrics]
Emefa’s works mostly concentrate on the female gender. Most works provides a scenario where a woman
is doing a job commonly done by men and with that she questions people’s ideals on feminism.
Her Installation at the Nest Eye Exhibition comes with this poem;
I give thee a treasure. To by pass your pleasure.
You choose thine feature.
To make thine exposure. Pains of mine grumpissure.
To thee a fallen whorl.
To be called a whore.
Scared of thine own war.
To thee I have no wall.
Thee have now become mine squall.

7. ADDO SARKODIE MICHAEL
[Medium: acrylic, canvas, sticky note]
Michael puts his works in the middle of issues to enlighten his audience on various options they
perhaps don’t pay attention to. He works around the central them of consciousness, ignorance and
issues pertaining to the memory.
This installation combines various materials to address issues of consciousness and pushing people to
look outside the ordinary. His works also addresses issues concerning attitude on the African
continent as a reason for our underdevelopment.
He states in one of his statements’; “the mind is a vital tool and if one feeds it with the right
information, it can produce greater works.” He works in video installation as well.

8. GODFRED TETTEH
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas]
Godfred works in acrylic on canvas and other materials as well. His paints are applied in a very thick form. He states ‘I often
pour paints to make them drip and paint with them spontaneously, combining different techniques and styles of painting into
one. The thickness gives the painting a strong effect of life, energy and character.’
Life is the central theme he explores in his works. He puts it in two parts, the present and the future from which he reveals
certain issues that has been overlooked in history, its consequences and prospects. For him politics is funny, he dislikes it
though but strangely have fun also portraying political themes in his works. He states; ‘political figures are interesting
characters, their looks, gestures, etc, they seem to be living double lives’.
WILLIAM EKOW DUKU
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas]
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist my aim is not about doing work for it beauty but
try to bring up issues in the society in my works. A situation
whereby one ethnic group considers itself superior or above
the other and due to this, there are divisions and
misunderstanding in some part of the country.
Seeing some ethnic groups in Africa not being in good terms
or relationship with one another, resulting into conflict
depicted this theme that is festival in the work to help solve
some of the problems in the society.
In my work, I painted umbrella tops to signify different
ethnic groups being brought together due to festival and also
to signify different ethnic groups being part of the festival
with different colours being brought together, to suggest
peace or unity. No matter how far one is festivals brings us
together. So due to this festive moment issues are being
solved .so there would not be anything like being superior to
the other but as people of the same vision and goal.

9. ABEDI-BOATENG SARFO
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas, newsprint, plastic etc]
Abedi Sarfo works in a variety
of materials from canvas,
newsprint and more. He
employs surrealism in his work.
His work addresses social
issues, political and sometimes
religious as well. He is a
Christian and therefore
incorporates Christian ideas in
his works, for instance the
creation story.
GBLORKPOR JOSHUA MAWULI
[Medium: Painting on canvas]
ARTIST STATEMENT
A bell keeps ringing in my mind to motivate others and to make them keep hopes high through the changing scenes of life.
This is to encourage great minds to forge on and not to back down on setbacks.
Being carried away by various materials, placing and organizing them on a weak support posed a challenge yet I was able to
compose them to create figures out of the many pictures and texts on the newspaper. The choice of additional elements
and materials used in the work adds meaning and makes the message to be sent across clear.
The work in its space stands alone to make it seen and attention to be drawn on it to project the true meanings I want the
viewer to capture together with the users interaction with the work. Since the work aims motivating the viewer, the viewer
is part of the work for the full meaning of the work to be realized. One of the works that signifies strength has defined the
total exhibition space. This work puts all my newspaper works together as one.

10. THOMAS YAMSON
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas, newsprint]
ARTIST STATEMENT
My goal as an artist is not just to set out to
produce art about one subject or another. I
constantly try to use my art to address and
criticize issues emerging from our day to
day life. Sometimes I develop aspect of my
life into more in-depth ideas as themes for
my paintings.
This work tends to focus on our everyday
activities. Africa as a continent has lost its
pride and glory due to the lack of unity and
understanding among its people. And also
ignored their creator and rather put their
trust in humans and worldly things.
God is our maker and he is the only one
that can give us anything that we need and
we should not depend on perishable
things.
SAAKA MORDECAI
[Medium: Acrylic, canvas, newsprint]
ARTIST STATEMENT
The dominant subjects in my work
are women. This is because the
body of a woman is full of
mysteries every movement of
their body sends out a message.
My inspiration is drawn from
women especially young and
vibrant women. My work
addresses some issues in the
society. This I show through the
pose, expression and dressing of
the female body.
The work is not complete without
the inclusion of the viewer as it
poses a question to the viewer.
The work can be send to be
complete if the viewer reacts to it.

11. AFARI DANSO
ARTIST STATEMENT
This artwork is an exploration into the
birth of writing. I employed a
technique I call ‘stickles’ to execute it.
I was inspired by something I read in a
book titled ‘landmark of world
history.’ It talked about how certain
writings were birthed. The
hieroglyphics was another amazing
thing.
A careful observation of the work
shows various forms and shapes. The
stickles also provide familiar alphabets
and shapes in various forms.
VABENE FIATSI

12. Other Works Exhibited:

13. In recent years, exhibitions do not only transform thought patterns into art pieces but also authenticate the
membership of artists into the creative world, such that it is impossible to talk freely about a piece of art work
without having to mention its creator. The exhibition space is becoming so much an active space that it seals up
artists’ membership into artists communities and it is even making it possible to simply express the notion that
artists who do not exhibit do not exist.
The Nest Eye Exhibition hopes to continue to create this Avenue for the stabilization of a wonderful art society.
For Further Information on any issue concerning the Exhibition or Nest Eye in general;
Curators: hornarte@gmail.com, addomichael@rocketmail.com.
web: www.horn-art.blogspot.com
Press office: hornarte@gmail.com, addomichael@rocketmail.com.
Phone: +233 207505740.
Post: P.O.Box T 209, Old-Tafo, Kumasi, Ghana.