[ON TRADITIONAL AND MODERN ART IN GHANA]
“These links between traditional art and modern or contemporary experiments have always existed since the 1950’s.
But such links are supposed to improve traditional practices.
The rustic Kente technology is in danger of freezing to a state of stasis, while the Chinese find ways and means of imitating them quickly for mass production.
The 4-inch strip of Kente is screaming to be widened. That is what an academic institution is supposed to explore.
Thus Rural Art and Industry of KNUST as a program, was instituted to evolve the improvement of traditional crafts.”
“But now, mundane scholarship in the form of theoretical research leading to lofty paper degrees is swamping the creative urge for tangible artistic activities.
Authority thinks creative activity is not also an intellectual activity.
Thus, the traditional arts and crafts remain stale due to static repetition without improvement.”
“……Art has been fairly vibrant in Ghana since the late 1970’s.
But in recent years, young artists who have just started, are overpricing their works and attracting ugly comments from the struggling public.
Tragically, KNUST is no longer feeding the art scene with passionate budding young artists.
They graduate with a BFA and fight to get white-collar jobs in the banks and Insurance Houses.”
ATO DELAQUIS.