“my great-grandmother, grandmother and mother were the people I looked up to while growing up and their style fascinated my young mind a lot. Interestingly, I borrowed their clothes to construct the new identities you will be seeing” - Mel
Many people will remember 2019 for many
reasons. For Ghana and many in the diaspora it will be remembered as the year
the descendants of slaves returned to bond with the roots of their ancestors.
For us and one budding contemporary photographer, it would be remembered as the
beginning of the great exhibitions to look out for in the future.
Mel Ekow Fosu Arthur, an emerging contemporary
Ghanaian photographer based in Accra, who’s body of works encompasses all
spheres of photography but renowned for his contribution to fashion photography
in Ghana. Mel Arthur’s talent is unquestionably rare and it was for this reason
culture trip in 2017 named him in the top 10 photographers to look out for in Ghana. His eccentric
understanding of fashion photography has seen him collaborate with big brand
names in Ghana and beyond.
His maiden solo exhibition, Ny3 k3 w)—a Ga
expression which translates as yesterday and tomorrow expertly sort to find the
existing relationship between the fashion scene in the 90s, early 2000s and the
fashion of today.
“my great-grandmother, grandmother and
mother were the people I looked up to while growing up and their style
fascinated my young mind a lot. Interestingly, I borrowed their clothes to
construct the new identities you will be seeing” Mel said.
This he did by juxtaposing the images created
from the inspiration he claimed he got from the women in his family who raised
him. The exhibition showcased his understanding of documenting youthful culture
and the themes that influences it. The 8 days experience of the exhibition,
which ran from 23 August, 2019 to 30th August 2019 at Ariasville,
Airport Residential, gave industry players and art lovers an experience that
was worth their while. His use of the art of photography to recreate some iconic
looks which gave a sense of nostalgia to the observer, is one experience that
will resonate with the patrons of the exhibition.
“Growing up and watching these
women dress-up to various social events had a lasting impression on me as an
artist” he explained.
Other influences for this nostalgic work
he claimed included the late Suzzy Williams, the sultry and sassy Mzbel and
other male pop-stars.
Moving on from the past and the future, he
also delved into the present fashion trends which he believed is heavily
influenced by male popstars as 2-Pac,
P-Diddy and “Returnee” uncles from Hamburg and the Bronx who wore baggy
clothing, knock off jewelry and beanie hats with swag and panache.
In his concluding statement with us he emphasized,
“Basically the whole exhibition is to
highlight the old fashion trends of our parents and how we, as a new
generation, are carrying on the baton unknowingly. Our style is more
accessorized to meet modern tastes but the foundation of our aesthetics is
borrowed heavily from the adults in our life. In short, we are our parent’s
children”
