The thrill and pains of the art industry: Legion village artists call on gov’t to provide alternative work space

Waking up to the strokes of brushes on a canvass, splashes of colours speckled in circular, square and in most cases in no specific shape or format is the way artists and sculptors choose to express themselves.

Artists over the years have expressed themselves in their artwork and drawn inspiration from the things they see in their environment, from experiences and generally within themselves.

For the artists or sculptors at the Old Legion village, “art is the essence of living, there is no life without art.”

The ‘Old legion village’ is located in the heart of Opeibia near the Airport City in Accra. Lined with small wooden structures that give it the looks of an urban slum, it offers a stark contrast to the glitzy skyscrapers across the street—the Airport City.

But within its belly live some of the most artistic people in Accra carving and painting the past, the future, the abstract and bursts of inspiration—from stools, political leaders to scenic villages on the coast and beautiful sunsets only artists could dream into reality.

It’s a kaleidoscope of colours is an attraction to travellers—A lure not driven by gourmet discovery or lazing on the beach but love for a splash of colours on canvass and history.

But as fulfilling as this trade may seem, to these ‘Artmakers‘, it comes with many challenges.

In a country where arts are less than appreciated, the paintings which are mostly sold for GH₵350 and above take two to three days but the artists lament that the amount is not enough to take them home.

But that picture is about to get gloomier. By February, the village may no longer exist as its tenants have received an eviction notice.

With no options available to them, the squatters have called on the government to intervene in the situation and provide land for them to relocate.

A visit by theghanareport.com team on Saturday revealed that most of the painters and sculptors at the Legion village in Accra been in the live-work space for more than 20 years.

Christopher Kojo Alopko, a native of Togo recounts his journey of how he left his family and home country in 1998 to settle in Ghana.

“I left Togo in 1998 in search of greener pastures, I wasn’t married then so I really didn’t see it as a big deal, ” he told theghanareport.com.

With a small beam on his face, Mr Alopko admitted that “life was quite difficult in the beginning as he had to move from place to place until he settled here [Legion village] and since 2000 I have been making my own artwork but sales are not encouraging these days. ”

Asked whether he regrets leaving his home country, he noted that “things are not going well as he expected but we hope that someday it will be better.”

For Madam Vida Afriyie and her husband, 22 years in active ark work is enough to keep them going.

But not too different from Mr Alokpo story, Madam Afriyie and her husband run the art business together and the trade has seen their three children through school.

While in some families’ children inherit their parents’ trade or businesses, the Alokpos without hesitating said ‘No.” to whether their children would be venturing into the art business.

“My oldest child is 23 years but I do not want him doing artwork, all three of them are in school and I am hoping they become a doctor, lawyer or any other ‘far-fetching’ profession rather than art, ” Mrs Alokpo said.

Mumini Alidu, who learnt how to paint and make sculptors from his boss says he takes inspiration from the world and also because as an individual he has a creative personality.’

Amidu Alhassan, who has a slightly different story started the trade with his other two brothers but unfortunately, he has been left alone to continue the trade.

He also started the business more than 20 years ago.

For many of the inhabitants of the Legion Village, the joy and fulfilment of being called ‘artists or sculptors’ is gradually wearing off as the art industry is becoming increasingly challenging.