Sustainable arts can impact Ghana's economy — Artist
A mosaic and collage sustainable artist, Eric Kwadwo Afranie, has said sustainable arts have the potential to significantly impact Ghana's economy through job creation and increased export revenue.
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However, he said, for this potential to be fully realised, there was an urgent need for both the government and the private sector to invest in the sector.
He explained that with the global market increasingly favouring sustainable products, Ghana’s artists could have a unique opportunity to enhance their competitiveness in the international market.
For instance, he said tourism, a critical component of Ghana's economy, could benefit immensely from the promotion of sustainable arts, positioning the sector to play a significant role in the country’s economic growth.
According to the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ghana's Fine Arts and Crafts market is worth $2.5 million annually, however, the figure represents only a fraction of the market’s untapped potential.
Mr Afranie said that in an interview with the Daily Graphic at the closing ceremony of a two-week Solo Sustainability Arts Exhibition in Accra dubbed “Recreate”.
Moreover, the Arts Global Market Report 2024 says the world’s arts market size will grow to $707.79 billion in 2028 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1 per cent.
He said “In a world teetering on the brink of environmental collapse, the artist's role transcends mere creation; it becomes a vital commentary on our collective future. ‘Recreate’ is an exploration of this expanded role, a call to action that marries the aesthetic with the ethical.”
Commitment to sustainable creativity
The exhibition, featured over 50 works from the mosaic artist, showcasing innovative approaches to arts that prioritise environmental sustainability.
The displayed pieces, made from waste materials such as upcycled materials-stones, glass, plastics, recycled leather, metal, beads, wood, seashells, bones, imported used clothes (ofos / obroni waawu), African print, lorry tyres and palm kernel shell, reflect his commitment to reduce waste and promote ecological balance.
Mr Afranie said as a sustainable artist, he delved into the vast potential of upcycled materials to recreate artworks that challenge the traditional confines of artistic practice.
These unconventional mediums, he said, served not only as a testament to human ingenuity but also as a stark reminder of our responsibility towards the planet.
According to him, ‘Recreate’ invited viewers to envision a fusion of classical artistry with contemporary sustainability, challenging the status quo and encouraging a reimagining of art potential in a rapidly changing world.
He explained that by transforming discarded items into evocative art, he aimed to spark conversations about the urgent need for environmental consciousness and the power of creativity to drive change.
“Through this journey, I hope to inspire others to see beauty in the overlooked, value in the rejected, and potential in the everyday discarded material.
'Recreate' is not just an exhibition; it is a declaration for a sustainable future, a tribute to the timeless spirit of artistic innovation, and a plea for a world where art and nature coexist harmoniously,” Mr Afranie added.