The other side of Ibrahim Mahama: Investment, Artist, Art centre, transforming materials
Ibrahim Mahama -Artiste & Founder of Red Clay Studios
The other side of Ibrahim Mahama: Investment, Artist, Art centre, transforming materials
The Ghanaian and internationally recognized artist, Ibrahim Mahama has dedicated his life to investment in artwork, artistic work, art centre building, and transforming materials to explore themes of commodity, migration globalization, and economic exchange among others that cast memories and inspire for the next step in life.
The other side of Ibrahim Mahama the Ghanaian artiste is building projects and hubs for art students to learn from, get inspired, and lead the art space. Mr. Ibrahim believes that the motherland has all it takes to be. With the right mindset, determination, and focus, Africans will be better not necessarily travelling to America or Europe to better their artistic craft
He, Ibrahim Mahama built institutions that serve as project spaces, research hubs, and cultural repositories, providing a platform for unconventional art challenging the status quo in both local and global contexts.
He is not just an artist. The other side of him is adding other great value to the economy and continent which will benefit other sectors.
Willing to get more insight into the ideas behind his artistic work among others?
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Mr. Ibrahim Mahama made a statement years ago where he indicated some of the reasons behind his work.
“I was thinking about the idea of Lazarus in relation to the bible when Christ brought Lazarus back to life, Lazarus came as a man, but I was thinking about this idea that if something dies and is brought back to life, at least it should be able to bring back memories of the dead or afterlife.
“After acquiring the @nkrumahvolini I discovered these bats inside the building and I decided to the bats in the building as they are, the bats inspired me to make these new drawings and collages in London @whitecube. They were also an installation which was made up of these abstract bats that I made using these old canvasses that have been used to cover dead engines for a long time.”
Ibrahim is known for creating and depicting stories in a real and more practical way by getting the exact materials used for those works, building a place for them, and showcasing the “colours he intends to paint”.
His works focus on creating and telling stories about human conditions, migration, and people’s exploitation not excluding artworks that talk completely about the strong political connotations in Ghana considering decades ago and present day. His works also have labour elements depicted in a studio (a line up of sewing machines, packages shoe shines boxes, etc).
Some of his works are assemblage, and photography geared towards helping the public to reflect on the oversights of modern society and how to leverage them to generate revenue among others.
He uses different art styles, like putting things in certain places or taking pictures, to make people think about the issues in today’s world.
Ibrahim Mahama has been making a mark in the international art scene. He focuses on things like how people live, move around, and are sometimes taken advantage of. His art carries strong political messages. Mahama uses various forms of art, like putting things in specific places or taking photos, to make people think about the problems in today’s world.
He is noticed in art around the world. He cares about how people live, move, and are sometimes used unfairly. Ibrahim’s art has strong political messages.
Some key achievements/successes of Ibrahim Mahama in the world of art
- Prestigious Award
Ibrahim Mahama won the Principal Prince Claus Award in 2020.
- Notable Work
Known for artworks like “Out of Bounds” (2015), featuring large-scale installations of stitched jute sacks exploring themes of commodity, migration, globalization, and economic exchange.
- Institutional Spaces
Mahama has established artist-run institutions spanning over 200 acres in three (3) Tamale locations and counting
- Multifaceted Purpose
These institutions serve as project spaces, research hubs, and cultural repositories, providing a platform for unconventional art challenging the status quo in both local and global contexts.
- Activities
The spaces host exhibitions, artists’ residencies, workshops, and film screenings.
Who is the founder of Red Clay Studios? Where is Red Clay Studios located?
Ibrahim Mahama is the founder of Red Clay Studio, Savannah Centre for Contemporary Arts (SCCA) and Nkrumah Volini.
How old is artist Ibrahim Mahama? Age of Ibrahim Mahama Ghanaian artist?
Ibrahim Mahama was born in 1987.
The Ghanaian artist, Ibrahim Mahama is a Northerner specifically from Tamale.
Where does Ibrahim Mahama live? Where does Ibrahim Mahama work?
Ibrahim Mahama lives in Accra, Kumasi, and Tamale. He also works in the same three (3) cities among others.
What is the meaning of Ibrahim Mahama’s Red Clay?
According to Ibrahim Mahama, the name Red Clay was given to the place due to the red nature of the soil in the area he bought for the studio. Also, it was influenced by the song titled “Red Clay”, a song by the Senegalese, Youssou Madjiquène Ndour, known as Youssou Ndour.
When did Ibrahim Mahama start building Red Clay Studios?
He started building Red Clay Studios in 2015. However, the land was bought in 2014 due to the advice of her sister. Before, he was building
Savannah Centre for Contemporary Arts (SCCA) in Tamale.
Red Clay Studios was founded by Ibrahim Mahama. The studio is located in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
What is the size of Red Clay Studios?
Red Clay Studio boosts over 200 acres of land when all three locations are combined (its size can change).
What purpose does the Red Clay Studio serve?
Red Clay Studio serves as a project space, research hub, and cultural repository, providing a platform for unconventional art challenging the status quo in both local and global contexts.
What informs Ibrahim Mahama of the idea of building such a community?
“My travels around the world have really enforced the idea of community building in me, even now more than ever. We need to learn to invest more in our communities to create things that somehow will outlive ourselves. The problem is that we think at the moment, but we have to learn to think beyond the moment,” he once disclosed.
Educational background: Ibrahim Mahama
Mr. Ibrahim Mahama studied Philosophy at school. He attended KNUST. He is a product of St. Johns Boarding School, Achimota, and Pope Johns.
He obtained a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Sculpture in 2013 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting in 2010 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Who is Ibrahim Mahama?
Ibrahim Mahama is trained as an artist, painter, and sculptor. He is a space creator and a thinker.
What art does Ibrahim Mahama do?
Ibrahim Mahama Artworks
Often, he works with collaborators to stitch tattered sacks together to create enormous patchwork quilts, which are draped over buildings including theatres, museums, and apartments.
Is Ibrahim Mahama related to John Dramani Mahama?
No. They are not related. Ibrahim Mahama the Ghanaian artist is not related to the Former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama. They are not family members.
Social media handle: Ibrahim Mahama (artiste)
Check out Mr. Ibrahim Mahama on Facebook >>here
What can be found at Red Clay Studios?
At Red Clay Studios, things like charcoal sacks, cocoa sacks, and any other objects /or materials that are “dead” for normal use among others are found at Red Clay Studios. He sees those bags as items that have accumulated memories so he buys and replaces them for the owners and finally uses them to portray what they stand for on a normal day outside.
His works depict culture and the continent in general. They bring up memories and a conversation.
Mr. Ibrahim Mahama also purchases items from old factories and builds a space for them to convey a story from that perspective. He also takes photographs from markets, factories, and other places that have an element of history that humans need /or will need today /or in centuries to come. In addition, shoe-shine boxes are also retrieved for the studio (it conveys the story of street hustle).
Ibrahim Mahama retrieves lanterns, airplanes, trains, railway materials, and sewing machines from factories for his studio.
According to him, he has retrieved over 3,000 lanterns as of 2022. Explaining its relevance and significance, he said they hold a memory that a snapped photo of the same lantern does not have.
Mr. Ibrahim is an author of many projects in Ghana. He is known globally. His works are used on global platforms. He is listed among the Most Influential artists/persons in Africa.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
