We are extremely excited to announce our next show, MONDO GHANA, featuring hand-painted Ghanaian movie posters commissioned for this exhibit. The gallery will showcase a dozen original pieces (5ft x 3.5ft in size) based on titles that we've done posters for in the past like Jodorowsky's Dune, Maniac and The Thing.
A brief history for those unfamiliar with these truly inspired works of folk art. When VHS tapes hit West Africa in the early 80s, promoters would organize film screenings at mobile theaters, or "video clubs." To advertise for these events, they would commission local artists to create movie posters based on a basic outline (or even just the title) of a film. The result is a wonderfully loose and imaginative interpretation painted on large rice sack canvas. This is a global phenomenon, but posters from Ghana have gained particular recognition in the States.
Though the art form has started to fade away due to more readily available equipment and media in Western Africa, there are a handful of artists keeping the tradition alive. This has been a dream come true for us as we’ve been huge fans and collectors of these movie posters for several years. These paintings are magnificent in person and we can't wait to have them on display (and available for purchase) at our gallery.
The opening reception for MONDO GHANA will be on Friday, April 10th from 7pm - 10pm at the Mondo Gallery in Austin, Texas. The exhibit will run through April 25th.
