Eric Adjetey Anang
Encyclopedia
Eric Adjetey Anang is a Ghanaian sculptor born in Teshie
, Ghana
, where he lives and works.
, Nigeria
, under the auspices of Alliance française
in Kano.
After completing his secondary school, he took over in 2005 the management of the Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop that was established by his grandfather Seth Kane Kwei who invented design coffins in the 50’s. Within three or four years, he became one of Ghana's leading artists in design coffin
making, recognised both locally and internationally.
In 2009, Eric Adjetey Anang with his creations was featured in a television commercial for Aquarius (sports drink)
.
He has been collaborating with the Oregon College of Art & Craft
, organizing a two months residence in Ghana for Senior Lecturer Michael de Forest.
In January 2010, Eric took part in the photographic project Please, do not move ! with the French photographer Guy Hersant
. At the end of the same year, he takes part in the Black World Festival in Dakar
as representative of designers from Ghana.
Eric Adjetey Anang is also involved in anthropological research related to Ga people
with Roberta Bonetti (Affiliate Professor in History of Anthropology at University of Bologna and Fellow at Italian Academy for Advanced Studies, Columbia University.
At the age of 24, Eric Adjetey Anang has been acknowledged as "a model for African urban youths" by the French Newspapers Le Monde Diplomatique
Teshie
Teshie is a city in Ghana in the Greater Accra Region. Fort Augustaborg, built by the Danes in 1787, is located in Teshie and was occupied by the British from 1850 to 1957. The national Officer Cadet Training School and Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre are also located here...
, Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, where he lives and works.
Biography
In 2001, he introduced Ghana design coffins at Gidan Makama Museum KanoGidan Makama Museum Kano
Gidan Makama Museum Kano or Kano Museum is a museum in Kano, Nigeria. The museum has a significant collections of arts, crafts and items of historic interest related to the Kano area.Located in a 15th century historical building, which is recognised as a National Monument by the Government of...
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, under the auspices of Alliance française
Alliance française
The Alliance française , or AF, is an international organisation that aims to promote French language and culture around the world. created in Paris on 21 July 1883, its primary concern is teaching French as a second language and is headquartered in Paris -History:The Alliance was created in Paris...
in Kano.
After completing his secondary school, he took over in 2005 the management of the Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop that was established by his grandfather Seth Kane Kwei who invented design coffins in the 50’s. Within three or four years, he became one of Ghana's leading artists in design coffin
Coffin
A coffin is a funerary box used in the display and containment of dead people – either for burial or cremation.Contemporary North American English makes a distinction between "coffin", which is generally understood to denote a funerary box having six sides in plan view, and "casket", which...
making, recognised both locally and internationally.
In 2009, Eric Adjetey Anang with his creations was featured in a television commercial for Aquarius (sports drink)
Aquarius (sports drink)
Aquarius is a mineral sports drink manufactured by The Coca-Cola Company. It originated in, and was first introduced in 1983 in Japan as a grapefruit-flavored sports drink, as a response to a competitor's brand of sports drink called Pocari Sweat. It was introduced to Spain and Portugal in 1991,...
.
He has been collaborating with the Oregon College of Art & Craft
Oregon College of Art & Craft
Oregon College of Art & Craft is a college in Portland, Oregon, United States that grants Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees and certificates in book arts, ceramics, drawing and painting, fibers, metals, photography and wood. The college also offers an Artist-in-Residence program and provides...
, organizing a two months residence in Ghana for Senior Lecturer Michael de Forest.
In January 2010, Eric took part in the photographic project Please, do not move ! with the French photographer Guy Hersant
Guy Hersant
-Biography:Born in Loire Atlantique , Guy Hersant entered apprenticeship at the age of sixteen and obtained his CAP in photography while working as an assistant for several photographers. He later opened his own studio in Lorient in 1975...
. At the end of the same year, he takes part in the Black World Festival in Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
as representative of designers from Ghana.
Eric Adjetey Anang is also involved in anthropological research related to Ga people
Ga people
The Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in the West African nation of Ghana. It is part of the Dangme ethnic group. The Ga people are grouped as part of theGa–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. They speak Kwa languages...
with Roberta Bonetti (Affiliate Professor in History of Anthropology at University of Bologna and Fellow at Italian Academy for Advanced Studies, Columbia University.
At the age of 24, Eric Adjetey Anang has been acknowledged as "a model for African urban youths" by the French Newspapers Le Monde Diplomatique
Le Monde diplomatique
Le Monde diplomatique is a monthly newspaper offering analysis and opinion on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first created mainly for a diplomatic audience as its name implies...
2011
- Invited to the Gwangju Design Biennale (South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
), curated by Brendan McGetrick and An Xiao MinaAn Xiao MinaAn Xiao Mina is an American artist and designer who makes new media art. She focuses on social media art. In 2009, she started the Brooklyn Museum's Twitter commission, 1stfans, with a project involving Morse code . It was the museum world's first socially networked membership...
. Artistic directors : Ai Wei Wei and Seung H-Sang - Two months residence at Kane Kwei Carpentry WorkshopKane Kwei Carpentry WorkshopThe Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop is a studio established in Teshie, Ghana, since the Fifties. It is known for its Design Coffins that became symbolic of African artistic creativity.- History :...
for designer Benjamin Rollins Caldwell of South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence... - Invited for a three weeks residence at Museum of World Funerary Art, NovosibirskNovosibirskNovosibirsk is the third-largest city in Russia, after Moscow and Saint Petersburg, and the largest city of Siberia, with a population of 1,473,737 . It is the administrative center of Novosibirsk Oblast as well as of the Siberian Federal District...
- article in Mondomix magazine (p. 39) and on Mondomix website
- installation of a coffin in the Shreyas and Mina Ajmera Gallery of Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific of the Royal Ontario MuseumRoyal Ontario MuseumThe Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
on the occasion of the International Museum DayInternational Museum DayThe International Museum Day is a celebration that is held each year on or about 18 May. Each year, the Advisory Committee of the International Council of Museums defines a specific theme for International Museum Day.-Themes:...
.
2010
- http://cnn.com/video/?/video/world/2010/11/21/nr.bilchik.coffin.art.cnnshort programme on CNN InternationalCNN InternationalCNN International is an international English language television network that carries news, current affairs, politics, opinions, and business programming worldwide. CNN is one of the world's largest news organizations. It is owned by Time Warner, and is affiliated with CNN, which is mainly...
Edition] and CNN programme "Inside Africa" - article in Canadian magazine Spezzatino
- http://observers.france24.com/en/content/20100907-ghana-fun-shaped-coffins-bury-deceased-beer-fish-onion-biblearticle on France 24France 24France 24 is an international news and current affairs television channel. The service is aimed at the overseas market, similar to BBC World News, DW-TV, NHK World and RT, and broadcast through satellite and cable operators throughout the world. During 2010 the channel started broadcasting through...
] - public order: a food shop, by the Department of archaeology, University of GhanaUniversity of GhanaThe University of Ghana is the oldest and largest of the thirteen Ghanaian universities and tertiary institutions. It is one of the best universities in Africa and by far the most prestigious in West Africa...
in Legon, for the Pitt Rivers MuseumPitt Rivers MuseumThe Pitt Rivers Museum is a museum displaying the archaeological and anthropological collections of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. The museum is located to the east of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, and can only be accessed through that building.The museum was...
, University of OxfordUniversity of OxfordThe University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
. - 26 minutes programme on Eric Adjetey Anang recorded and broadcasted on GBN-GTVGTV (Ghana)GTV is the national public broadcaster of Ghana, run by the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation. It commenced operations on July 31, 1965 and was originally known as GBC TV....
, Ghanaian national TV station. - Article in Austrian newspaper Die Presse
2009
- Public Order - one coffin for the permanent collection of Royal Ontario MuseumRoyal Ontario MuseumThe Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. With its main entrance facing Bloor Street in Downtown Toronto, the museum is situated north of Queen's Park and east of Philosopher's Walk in the University of Toronto...
. OntarioOntarioOntario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, CanadaCanadaCanada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. - Ghana: Customised coffins- Documentary film of 52 minutes. Directed by Philippe Lespinasse. FTV Pole TV5 / Wide Angle Productions, France.
- TV programme, 26 minutes on the workshop. El Mondo TV. Madrid, Spain.
- Guest artist of Boulevard Amandla project in Antwerp (Belgium).
- Radio show devoted to the workshop and the poet Nii Aye Ghanaian living in London. Radio Central, Antwerp, Belgium.
- Private order of eight coffins - Private Collector. Los Angeles, CA, USA.
2008
- Moment with Mo Abudu - Emission TV of one hour on the production of the workshop. Studio M-Net TV. Lagos, Nigeria.
- Order two coffins. Private Collector, Netherlands.
- Interview with Eric Anang Adjetey. Arte Television, Germany.