Gallery Soview in Accra will host a new group exhibition titled I SEE EVERYTHING YOU CAN BE, featuring artworks by the five emerging Ghanaian artist winners of grants from the Africa Prime Initiative (API) – the philanthropic arm of the US-based video streaming platform, Africa Prime –  Artist: Elroy Salam, Emmanuel Afriyie Arthur, Quarshie Dela, Baahwa , and Mary-Jo Adjetey

The exhibition will open on September 27th 2024. It will feature a diverse range of artistic mediums including photography, paintings., marking the first exhibition since the gallery’s reopening.

The five featured artists – Elroy Salam, Emmanuel Afriyie Arthur, Quarshie Dela, Baahwa , and Mary-Jo Adjetey – were each recipients of US$2,000 API grants to support emerging African artists.

This exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to engage with a wide range of artistic expressions. Elroy Salam’s work explores the cultural significance of Ataya tea gatherings, while Emmanuel Afriyie Arthur presents a series of bleach-on-fabric artworks that depict life in Ghanaian urban environments.

Quarshie Dela’s multidisciplinary approach examines themes of identity through anthropomorphic figures, and Baahwa ’s Dear Women series challenges traditional beauty standards. Mary-Jo Adjetey’s Interwoven installation promises a more immersive experience, expanding on her previous work in this medium.

API has a strong track record of supporting emerging African artists. In the summer of 2023, API collaborated with StArt Gallery in Windhoek, Namibia, to present the Rising Voices exhibition, which featured the work of Namibian API grant recipients. API also partnered with Fonds Yavarhoussen in Madagascar to select and support emerging artists, furthering their careers and broadening their artistic impact.

The grants enabled all of the artists to purchase new equipment and materials, expanding and developing their professional practice. For instance, Emmanuel Afriyie Arthur acquired specialised materials for his unique bleach-on-fabric technique, while Baahwa was able to invest in photography equipment for her empowering portrait series.

I SEE EVERYTHING YOU CAN BE promises to be a vibrant showcase of Ghana’s emerging artistic talent, offering visitors a unique glimpse into the future of African art. The exhibition is free to enter and open to the public from September 27th 2024 to November 10th at Gallery Soview in Accra.

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