Waving flags
Patrick Tagoe-Turkson has been reassessing the Asafo flag art, but it’s his work with found items such as upcycled flip-flops and nature art that has garnered attention around the world.
Adzisuazi (Lessons) 2003, Polished cotton, acrylic paint, cotton yarns, stranded cotton, 328cm x 214cm
On nature art.
“By nature art l mean ephemeral art created from natural materials found in a given environment to reflect, interact and draw inspiration and to use them for aesthetic and social change. Nature art goes beyond mere aesthetics. It is spiritual; a connection between man and the natural phenomenon through art. In nature art, landscape most of the time serve as the canvas and the artist create by employing the natural elements (plants, leaves, sticks, earth, water and sometimes the human body) to create without causing any major damage or transformation to the landscape.
“The connection between man and nature seem to be widening in contemporary times because of our mass consumerism. We pollute the environment with plastic waste. We cut all the trees, build on waterways and pollute the rivers. So I use art as a way of reconnecting with nature and to contribute to its sustainability. Because of this, I tap my inspiration, materials and ideas for my work directly from my environment. You may call me a preservationist.”
On found items.
“I have lived closer to the sea all my life and plastic waste, especially flip-flops, have confronted me on daily basis. Flip-flops have been my footwear and we played with them. I made toy lorry tires with used flip-flops in my childhood. Working with waste flip-flips brings back many interesting memories association with the medium while growing up.
“I also see my use of flip-flops debris as my small contribution to solving the global plastic epidemic. I wanted to tell the story and share in the struggle of the marginalised in my community whose lives the waste flip-flop seems to signify. On the one hand, I feel the character of bleakness, hardship and pain revealed by the imprinted foot shapes, inscriptions and markings on the flip-flop. On the other hand, I am assured of hope and regeneration from the outburst of freshness and brilliance as I cut open these same waste flip-flops in my studio. I like the play of this tension between the mundane and the beautiful residing in this single material (the flip-flop debris) and the contradictory reactions people bring to it when it is transmuted or place in new contexts. I would like to explore the oxymora to the full and tell the story in a stronger and better light through my art.”
Yehyiahyiaoo (We’ve met each other again) 202, Polyester, polished cotton, cotton yarns, stranded cotton, 140cmx102cm
On flags.
“Flag art concept is my point of departure to the diverse media and approaches to my art. I was raised and schooled in the flag art of the “Asafo” militia of Winneba (Effutu) in Ghana where I come from. The Asafo is a socio-political military institution found among almost all ethnic groups in Ghana who were responsible for defending the local states. Today their role is more associated with chieftaincy and the celebration of festival. So it is important to stress that Asafo flag art is not a preserve of any ethnic group in Ghana like the Fante who reside in the central region of coastal Ghana as generally perceived. The Asafo flags were used to express pride, to tease a rival militia, as trophies, to narrate or record historical stories and events.
“I decided to update them because I realised that this unique historic traditional art form is gradually dying. The reasons being that, firstly, the Aboakyir festival of the people of Effutu (Winneba) which serves as the motivational drive for the making and display of flags has really been celebrated due to political influences and chieftaincy crisis within the Effutu state.
“Secondly, the influence of popular cultures and religions such as Islam and Christianity has made contemporary Effutu youth regard the Asafo flag art as something fetish. Consequently, they take very little interest in it.
“Thirdly, the elders have failed to pass on the Asafo flag art-making culture to the young generation.
“I want to use my flags to strengthen the ancient historical traditional values such as honesty, integrity and hard work often transmitted through aphorisms in Asafo flag art which are becoming virtually extinct in our contemporary societies and to share my experience of this unique cultural currency to a wider audience. I also want to use my flags to deepen our understanding and appreciation of our cultural heritage; revitalize our inherent strength and promote our self-confidence, pride and cohesion as Ghanaians and Africans.”
Follow Patrick @tagoeturkson
