This year, I attended three art exhibitions in Freetown: The Barray, Bondumani Art, and The Reunion.
I was blown away by the raw talent of Sierra Leonean artists, and the salient themes that ran through their work. In the midst of a pandemic, in this year of collective grief and loss, Sierra Leonean artists managed to create beauty.
The Barray has been a pioneer of art collaboration in Sierra Leone and it was exciting to see established and emerging artists in the same space. The theme “ In Black We Trust” was a tribute to the Black Lives Matter movement, showing the interconnectedness of black liberation and the lived experiences of black people globally.
Next stop was Bondumani Art, another collective of young Sierra Leonean artists. The pieces showed Sierra Leonean heroes such as Senge Pieh and Mammy Yoko, and highlighted themes of masculinity and vulnerability .
At The Reunion Sierra Leone, there was a showcase of digital and abstract art , and it was a space for emerging artists who were exhibiting their work for the very first time. The Reunion is a new network of artists in Sierra Leone, and it is part of a larger global network of contemporary and visual artists in Switzerland, Costa Rica and Honduras. This is great , as it shows that Sierra Leonean artists can be a part of global creative collectives.
Three art exhibitions in Freetown in one year is an amazing growth spurt in the creative scene, and I hope to see more of these in the coming years. Artists need creative validation , and these spaces not only grant them exposure, but also give them the creative confidence they need to carry on in an environment that is quite challenging to thrive as an artist. One of the artists I spoke to at The Reunion, Ranya Nirvan, mentioned how difficult it is to get quality art supplies in Sierra Leone. Artists have to import supplies and pay heavy duty taxes , taking a financial toll on them. A permanent space to exhibit remains a challenge as there aren’t any art galleries in Sierra Leone. These exhibitions therefore serve as the only opportunity for emerging artists to network with potential buyers, get more traction for their virtual platforms on social media, and make their work feel worthwhile.
I hope to see more of such celebration and showcasing of our beauty and our realities as a nation through art. Art is a balm , so I appreciate these artists for coming together to create such beauty and pour out light. As we close a very tumultuous 2020 and hope for a fresh start in 2021, here’s to more exhibitions, more creative collaboration, and to more celebration of our beautiful Sierra Leone!
Words and pictures by Ngozi Cole. Send enquiries about this post to editor@poda-poda.com