“Strange but Somehow Beautiful”
Art of the Adan People of South-East Ghana.
Michael Yates, an avid collector of African tribal art, will be organizing the first ever exhibition
devoted solely to carvings of the Adan people. The accompanying exhibition catalogue will
elaborate individually on the approximately 200 carvings which will be on display.
The Adan are a small group of people who live in south-east Ghana. If there is one thing that
characterises Adan figurative carving, then it is its diversity. In Michael Yate’s article “Strange
but Somehow Beautiful” Art of the Adan People of south-east Ghana, he describes three basic
types of figurative carvings. These are – figures having two arms and two legs, figures lacking
one or more limbs, and figures carrying something on their heads. The figures can either
represent ancestors or bush spirits and are connected to the West African religion of Voudun. In
some cases Adan carvings can be very similar to some carvings made by their neighbours, the
Ewe.
Michael Yates is a retired folklorist who has conducted field work in England, Scotland and the
Appalachian Mountains of North America. He is the co-author of Dear Companion. Appalachian
Traditional Songs and Singers from the Cecil Sharp Collection (London. 2004) and the author of
Traveller’s Joy. Songs of English and Scottish Travellers and Gypsies 1965 – 2005 (London. 2006).
He has also written numerous articles, papers and reviews on folksong, folklore and folktales,
some of which can be found on www.mustrad.org.uk His collection of field recordings is now
housed in the Sound Archives of the British Library in London and many of his field recordings
are currently available on some 40 CDs.
Michael Yates also collects tribal art, chiefly from Africa, contemporary British art and studio
pottery.
Title of Exhibition: “Strange but Somehow Beautiful” – Art of the Adan People of South-East
Ghana.
Place: Artsite, The Post Modern, Theatre Square, Swindon, Wiltshire, SN1 1QN
Exhibition Dates: Thursday, 14th March – Saturday, 23rd March, 2013 Opening Times: 11am –
4pm.
Open every day Talk: Wednesday, 20th March, 2013. 7pm start
Quelques images et infos supplémentaires provenant du site "Swindon open studio"
Swindon Open Studios Tuesday, 3 May 2016 " itemprop="name">'Strange but Somehow Beautiful; Art of the Adan People of south east Ghana
View of the exhibition from the collection of Mike Yates at the Mount House Gallery, Marlborough College, Bath Road, Marlborough SN8 1PA. The exhibition was from Wednesday May 4- Sunday May 22 2016.
