Batik fabrics from Ghana on display
Above and below: Ghanaian batik fabric designs by Mufutawu Yusif Ajani. Above and below: Ghanaian batik fabric designs by Mufutawu Yusif Ajani.
MAKING a bold statement with his Ghanaian batik fabric artworks is Mufutawu Yusif Ajani. With an exhibition at the Artisan Gallery on Florida Road, the Ghanaian artist visits South Africa periodically to market his work.
Batik basically refers to an ancient handmade fabric art. In an interview with Tonight, Ajani explains further: “The batik and tie-dye is made of 100 percent cotton cloth. The same dye, which comes in many colours, is used for all the fabrics. Creating the designs for my work is something which fascinates me due to the colours and variety of effects which result from it.”
Ajani’s passion for art developed when he attended the Charlie Wote Festival (a street art festival that includes street painting, sidewalk painting, chalk art, graffiti, youth art workshops, live music performances, a fashion circus and more) which was held at the museum in Accra.
On his vibrant artworks, he says he designs and produces bags: “These are made in collaboration with Ms Akua Ofosuhene and with the fabric, I create coconut shell jewellery.”
Regarding his mediums, Ajani is an artist who is all about conservation. He says he likes to work with environmentally friendly and natural materials such as coconut, shell and cotton fabric.
As for the highs and lows of what it means to be an artist, Ajani shares: “The best part of being an artist is the sense of achievement and success that is achieved when one’s artwork has had positive public attention and interest. I particularly enjoy Durban as my work has a very positive reception here. And yet, as an artist, the biggest challenge is to know how to use your tools correctly in order to achieve that outstanding result for which one aims.”
So what can art lovers expect from viewing the work? According to Ajani, viewers can look forward to a lot of creativity and colours correctly combined in repeated designs.
The works are available at the gallery in 5.5m and 2.75m lengths.
• The exhibition runs at the Artisan Gallery on Florida Road. For information, call Ingrid at 031 312 4364 or e-mail info@artisan.co.za.