THE ART OF ART.

-

It was a Saturday morning, unlike other days, the moist breeze of dawn didn't bring the melodious tunes of the early morning singing birds, nor did it echo the sound of the showers. It only carried the cold that accompanied it to me on my bed. I was still drowsy and contemplating if I should just keep myself in this sheet and pretend the night wasn't over or get up and train myself for the winter days in “Ablotsi”.

Telling you I sluggishly dragged myself out of bed would be a lie because I jumped down since I was on a top bunk and started looking for my slippers, as I was still sleepy. I did what I had to do and was talking to my friend about meeting him in the farmer's hall (Akuafo) since I was going to use the library there. During the call, a colleague knocked and asked if I would go to the 1957 art gallery.

 It wasn't part of my plans, and the fact that we were three and two of them had plans and were even dressed before letting me know made me feel a sting. But I had to attend because it was needed and going in groups was going to cut my expenses (transport) should we take a Bolt.

They waited for me as I hurriedly did my things and we set off. It was drizzling, and the price of the Bolt was 56.00, so we went on Google Maps for directions. On our way to Atomic to pick the car, just when we passed the center point mall, it started raining heavily. I said if I had a Urim and Thummim, I would've checked to know if the rain was a good or bad omen. 

The drops hitting the floor didn't only make my white footwear a flash of brown but my legs too. However, when we got to Atomic, the rain then washed it as it became a cat and dog one. I was praying for a free ride, and though we got the free offer, he wasn't going our way with his classic Benz that would've made me nostalgic, perhaps in my previous life if only I had any.

We eventually got there, not by our feet but by the trotro and directions from two gentlemen who, by the sight of three young ladies seeking directions to Kempinski, concluded we were invited by our “mmmm,” with a “wow” remark. Proper security men directed us, and we made our way there. 

I wasn't so hyped about the journey because I wasn't mentally and physically prepared for it, but I know myself. The sight of the fish sculpture alone made me eager. And when I got to where I was an eye roll away from the “GALLERY 1957 PRESENTS LARRY AMPONSAH,” I knew I was home away from home. Interestingly, not only was I home away from home, but I was welcomed home.

The nice paintings in there got me thinking: the creation, the patches in the faces that are different from the other parts, the words from Curator Catherine Finerty, and the painting that said "keep it real." I know I was just a piece of art, but I wondered if I could ever paint like that. How does the idea come about? How do the paintings end up as humans? What is it communicating? Why wasn't the face painted just like that? I was thinking as I stared longingly at them. 

There's this joy in trying to figure out messages in paintings. If it doesn't get you into your musing, then it will be amusing. You will think you are close until you see another little detail you might have forgotten or ignored, but it's very important to the art. That's just the art of art. It was either intentionally or unintentionally added, but it adds a few meanings to it.

I read the writings. I felt the need to say thank you to Larry Amponsah and Curator Catherine Finerty because not only did they consider displaying paintings in a space where your voice echoes and comes back to you, but they left words, "where agriculture meets horticulture". The power of imagination is what I imprisoned myself to feel. And I felt it. There again, I also got the message. 

I don't need to get all the perfection. All that matters is how deep I'm rooted in what I'm doing, the joy and comfort it brings, and the fulfilment/ appreciation it brings. And so, when I was contemplating if the pronunciation of Finerty was “FI:NERTY” or “FAINERTY,” I reminded myself,"at the end of the day, it is not so much about mastery as it is about the state of flow…”_ Katherine Finerty 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DEAR MEN

-
         A LETTER TO THE GENTLEMEN Dear Gentleman, I wanted to say the brightness of the day has given me this unique opportunity to write y'all this letter but looking at me wrapped in one of my mother's favorites clothes this dawn and shivering like a wet chicken, permit me to say the coldness of this early dawn breeze has pushed me to write y'all this letter. Before you run ahead of me because of "coldness" I want you to also know the matter is not a good one so just hold your smile and stick to my line both literally and figuratively.  In one of my random thoughts and in finding the answer to the question "Why do men lie?"My inner man, who is so far one of the men who hasn't lied or tried to be who he is not, dragged me to the Garden of Eden, and made me watch from the beginning when the serpent appeared till the end when Adam had to lie to save Eve. It then dawned on me, men lie to protect women. In fact, Adam did, how much more are the sons of ...
Read more

WHAT LINKEDIN IS

-
Why LinkedIn? When I first heard about LinkedIn , it was in 2022, and in an unappealing way. I came across a post that talked about how everyone on LinkedIn seemed to be a “big person.” One comment said, “You’ll meet someone who says, ‘I serve as a trusted intermediary, offering convenient and accessible services like cash deposits, withdrawals, e-transactions, and helping bridge the gap between traditional banking…,’” only to realize they’re just a momo vendor by the roadside. I laughed at that particular comment and it stuck with me because I was working as a momo vendor at the time. Others also commented on how people have made everything a lesson, like what happened when they crossed a road or how they swallowed banku in a modern way. I heard of LinkedIn when it was 20 years since its launch. Two years later, after teachings and observing how it works, this is what LinkedIn looks like to me. But before I tell you, let me take you to a party. In 2023, I attended a birthday party fo...
Read more

INTO THE COAST

-
Image
"...In the here and now, I nearly found love,  One that would've blossomed on the wings of happiness and acceptance.  The mystery that would've left a timeless joy. Nearly to, is, they say but this never was. It was, but just a short-lived spell...." Gbasala, The waves have delivered your message, the breeze of dawn and twilight wouldn't let me rest either and so I have come, to tell the stories, I have come, with people who would bear me witness and not only my memory. Gbasala, I have come to tell them about the dance we did to the nice tunes the susurration provided, the thunderous slap of the sea against those rocks that give the high keys and serve as clap to the whistling wind. But I only pray, they enjoy this journey through these buried chapters, and show love as we walk along the coast and into it. Dear Reader, I'm just here to keep memories whilst sharing them with you too. I will share my experiences, my thoughts,my journey and all the interesting...
Read more