“Mrikisie” 2019, Akropong Odwira’s Most Creative Art Piece

Mrikisie

"MRIKISIE" is one of the most creative art piece exhibited at the 2019 Akropong-Akuapem Odwira Festival. Here is a piece made by Livingstone Amoako, a Ghanaian Contemporary Artist who has in the past been involved in several mind-blowing innovations. 

The physical beauty of this fine art is the utilization of around 3,400,000 (Three Million and Four Hundred Thousand) snail shells of varied length and sizes (6 inches long and below) in structuring a tree-like shape on a 6/6 square metre ground. It took the artist two (2) weeks to complete the piece.

Mrikisie

According to Livingstone Amoako, the inspiration of the work (Mrikisie) is from a Ghanaian proverb “Mrikisie a y3antumi an) no 3dane samanp)” which is translated as "A meadow which couldn’t be cleared turns into an evil forest".

The idea behind the artwork is an immediate reference to ‘Harmony’ and ‘Peace’ being derived from a ‘Clean’ and ‘Vigorous’ environment.

Mrikisie

Nevertheless, some indigenes of Akropong relate "Mrikisie" as a lesson to put to practice in the current chieftaincy situation for a more successful Akropong Odwira Festival in the nearest future.

Anyway the artwork essentially underscores the need for a respected environment leading to the safeguard of the ecosystem. 

By: Abel Ofori-Adeniran