An artist explaining his art work to the media
The premiere of the art exhibition, ‘Let’s Talk Sh*t’, has taken place at the Alliance Française in Accra, showcasing the work of 21 artists with varied visual art forms to address issues pertaining to open defecation.
The exhibition which featured art forms ranging from video, graffiti, illustration, painting, sculpture and photography, engaged the representatives of WASH officials, civil societies and the media in the elimination of open defecation in Ghana.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, Minister for the Ministry of Local Government & Rural Development (MLGRD), opening the exhibition, said, “I am extremely happy to see how creative the artworks produced can significantly address the issues of open defecation in Ghana.”
He added, “This is pertinent and challenges the social and cultural norms. This initiative adds value to the government’s programme on the elimination of open defecation. Big thanks to the artists and to UNICEF and the Alliance Française for facilitating this event.”
Susan Namondo Ngongi, Representative of UNICEF Ghana, stated that “we should not be ashamed of using the word shit. What is shocking is the fact that five million Ghanaians are defecating in the open and that 43 percent of schools are not equipped with proper sanitation facilities or do not even have water!”
While the title of the programme may sound shocking to some people, it is expected to generate attention and initiate a dialogue on the issue.
Frederic Dart, Director of the Alliance Française, was excited about the support of UNICEF and happy that the efforts of the Alliance Française in leading the programme would contribute to the efforts of the MLGRD in bringing the issue of open defecation to the fore.
“Visual artists in Ghana are usually not seen as agents of change but rather as people who produce aesthetic artwork only. This programme provides the artist community with a great opportunity to show that their role is not about ‘decoration’ or beauty but about engaging on social issues.
This collaboration demonstrates that visual art can contribute to arouse critical thinking and place this issue into the public sphere. I am proud that the Alliance Française of Accra organised this,” he said.
The participating artists are Bright Tetteh Ackwerh, Selorm Dogoe, Henry Obimpeh, Percy Osei Appiah, Eric Gyamfi, Mohammed Awudu, Nicholas Tettey Wayo, Fiona Worlanyo Ansah, Aziz Iddriss, Tjasa Rener, Comrade David Sedi Agbeko, Nana Afari Darko, Art for Change, Kelvin Vincent, Kwesi Botchway, Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, Derrick Okanta, Cornelius Annor, Michael Kofi Agyekum Fiscian, Snezana Vrebrac and Stephen Allotey. Their medium of art includes painting, sculpture, photography, installation, videography and theatre.
In November, the artists will take the exhibition on tour to three selected communities practising open defecation in Accra, so that a dialogue can directly be generated with community members.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri