Ghanaian artist Serge Attukwei Clottey is set to collaborate on a programme of activities, which include a special performance and presentation and interactive research based workshops with staff and students across the University of Brighton.
Clottey, whose work encompasses performance, film, photography, sculpture and installation, will use Ghana and Africa as his focus point to explore issues such as sanitation, politics, trade, migration and the role of arts in community development.
Clottey will be presenting the ideas behind his “Afrogallonism” movement to mark his new collaboration with the university’s Responsible Futures Research and Enterprise Team. The event will take place at The Sallis Benney Theatre on Wednesday, October 17 from 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Entry is free but booking is required.
“Afrogallonism” is the name for Clottey’s work utilising yellow gallon containers that were brought into Ghana as oil jerry cans. These became water storage materials in almost every home in the country due to the shortage of water.
As time went by, these gallons began to be disposed of carelessly in communities and this became a big sanitation issue. Clottey identified ways to reduce this problem by collecting the discarded gallons and transforming them into public art installations.
Afrogallonism has evolved into a movement and a wider community art project, which engages young people from La township in Accra and encourages them to express themselves creatively through staged performances addressing various issues affecting Ghana.
In April 2018, Professor Novelli – Academic Lead for the university’s Responsible Futures Research and Enterprise Agenda, visited Clottey’s studio in La, which became as Novelli puts it “the beginning of an inspiring collaboration”.
In July 2018, a small team from the University of Brighton, encompassing colleagues from four different schools were sponsored through the VC Debra Humphris’ Fund to visit Accra (Ghana) and establish what is now referred to as the Arts4CommunityDevelopment collaboration, which involves Clottey and his team, a number of academics from the University and is open to collaborations with those interested within and beyond the University of Brighton.
Novelli said: “Harnessing change through innovative approaches aimed at enhancing the delivery of sustainable economic development, improved environments and more inclusive societies is at the centre of the university’s Responsible Futures Agenda and Clottey’s work and perspectives are a true representation of what we are trying to achieve. Undoubtedly his inspiring approach and ambition to influence good change in his community through contemporary arts practice represents an inspiring model to learn from in other parts of the world.”
The university is in the process of developing a knowledge exchange programme with Clottey, incorporating funded research projects, teaching activities and more – starting with Clottey’s visit to Brighton.
Source: Brighton.ac.uk
