Ghana in the spotlight this summer at Les Rencontres d’Arles

Freshly returned from an art trip to Accra, IN SITU Art Club is looking forward to discovering the exhibition Ghana! Dreaming Independence at the Palais de l’Archevêché in Arles.

The exhibition revisits Ghana’s independence, led by Kwame Nkrumah, a defining moment that resonated far beyond its borders. As the first sub-Saharan African country to free itself from colonial rule, Ghana emerged as a beacon of political emancipation and a driving force within the Pan-African movement.

At the heart of the exhibition is photography’s pivotal role in shaping and circulating the image of a young nation. Through books, magazines, and other printed matter, a new visual language emerged, breaking with colonial narratives and asserting a self-defined identity.

The exhibition brings together major figures such as Felicia Abban, James Barnor, Willis E. Bell, and Efua T. Sutherland, alongside Marc Riboud and Paul Strand. In dialogue, contemporary artists including Denyse Gawu-Mensah, Carlos Idun Tawiah, Rita Mawuena Benissan, and Postbox Ghana reinterpret this visual legacy.

Curated by Damarice Amao, the exhibition will open on July 6.

IN SITU Art Club designs bespoke trips to Accra, offering exclusive access to artists’ studios, photographers, and key cultural figures across Accra and beyond.