ARCHITECTURE AS A COUNTRY'S VERITABLE PR TOOL

Ghana Freedom Pavilion at the 2019 Venice Biennial

The seamless integration of architecture and art, soulmates as it were, ensured that Ghana’s entrance into the biggest event in the art world created a huge buzz. The Ghana Pavilion at their first outing at the Venice Biennial draws inspiration from the Gurunsi earth houses. The Gurunsi huts are renowned for their elaborate decorations with hand painted designs and murals. The Gurunsi tribe inhabit the northern region of Ghana as well the southern part of Burkina Faso. In Ghana, their estimated population is 976, 311 while in Burkina Faso, they are up to  1,000,0000.

Gurunsi earth house which inspired the design of the the Ghana Freedom

Commissioned by the Ghanaian president, and designed by David Adjaye, the building comprises of a series of interconnected oval shaped galleries with a common wooden roof. Christened Ghana Freedom after the popular song Ghana Freedom which was composed ahead of the country’s independence, the pavilion is curated by film maker, Nana Oforitta Ayim. The exhibiting artists include El Anatsui, Ibrahim Mahama, Felicia Abam and Lynette Yiadom Boakye. Also included in the exhibit is a film by John Akomfrah and video sculpture by Selasi Awuusi Sosu.

El-Anatsui's Earth Shedding Its Skin" sculpture made from multiple flattened yellow bottle caps connected with copper wires. Photocredit: Dezeen

Ibrahim Mahama's "A Straight Line Through the Carcass of History 1649" comprises of an array of smells and objects- including smoked fish mesh, wood, cloth and archival material. Photocredit: Dezeen

Photocredit: Dezeen

The Venice Biennial is regarded as the Olympics of the Art world. Nigeria had her first outing at the 57th edition of the Biennial in 2017 with a contingent comprising Peju Alatise, Victor Ehikamenor and Qudus Onikeku and the duo of Aderenle Sonariwo and Emmanuel Iduma as the curators. Ghana joins the elite list of African countries that now includes Nigeria, Mozambique, Angola, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Angola to have pavilions at the Biennial.

Nigerian exhibiting artists at the 57th Venice Biennial in 2017. L-R. Victor Ehikamenor, Peju Alatise, Qudus Onikeku
Credit-www.kobini.com

The full Venice Biennale 2017 Contingent. L-R: Emmanuel Iduma(Assistant Curator),Aderenle Sonariwo (Curator), Peju Alatise, Victor Ehikamenor, Edo State Governor and Wife- Godwin and Betty Obaseki, Qudus Onikeku.
Credit: Guardian Nigeria

The pavilion whose interior walls are finished with red soil from where else? Ghana will in one fell swoop generate renewed interest in Ghanaian traditional architecture while providing the perfect backdrop for showcasing the best of a pot-pourri of the the country's art. One must commend David Adjaye for his masterful contextual representation of a national brief that must be dear to his heart. He had this to say about the structure:
"The pavilion's design is influenced by historic Ghanaian architecture and it creates a cyclical space that connects different generations of artists as a labyrinth... Architecure here is a form rooted in tradition, but is also something that expands and grows"

Sir David Adjaye. In the background is the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
Credit: www.townandcountrymagazine

Adjaye has designed commissions such as the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the Washington Mall, a three-tiered structure with a bronze filigree plate façade. Other high-profile projects include the UK Holocaust Memorial, UK, Latvian Museum of Contemporary Art, Mass Extinction Memorial Observatory (MEMO) and of course, the ALARA Concept Store in Lagos.

Alara Concept Store, Lagos

As they say, when coming late to a party, ensure you make a grand entrance to make the wait worthwhile! Well, Ghana ticked all the right boxes in that regard!