Last Chance to See
Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana
TORONTO, August 24, 2017— The ROM-original exhibition Art, Honour, and Ridicule: Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana, closes on Monday, September 4, 2017. Showcasing 35 original handcrafted flags, augmented by brilliant costumes, stunning artifacts and stirring videos, the exhibition brings life to the amazing stories and traditions of the Fante flag culture.
Co-curated by Dr. Silvia Forni, ROM Curator of African Arts and Culture, and Doran H. Ross, former director of the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, Asafo Flags takes a historical and contemporary look at the vibrant communities of the Asafo companies of the Fante states located along the coast of Southern Ghana. Historically, Asafo companies were in charge of the safety, protection and warfare of their local communities, and these stunning, hand crafted flags would signify their role as leaders and protectors. Today, these sacred objects depict narratives of pride, wisdom, continued protection, and the spirit and history of a company and its community.
The exhibition is complemented by a landmark ROM Press publication, Asafo Flags from Southern Ghana. The book, co-authored by Dr. Forni and Doran H. Ross, explores the stunning textile-based artistic tradition associated with Ghana’s Fante militias. It is available for purchase in the ROM Boutique.
Asafo Flags is a significant part of the ROM’s three year Of Africa project, a multiplatform and multiyear project aimed at rethinking historical and contemporary representations of Africa. The project includes contributions by curators, artists, authors, educators, and academics from across Africa and the African Diaspora.
Asafo Flags is included with ROM General Admission. Visit rom.on.ca/asafoflags for more details.
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