Artist interview - Adelle A’Asante - New Creatives
About The Artist: Adelle A’Asante
Adelle A'asante, a lived-experience storyteller, hails from a long lineage of West African Griots. She focuses on the sacred art of storytelling as a tool for social change and justice. Adelle is currently emerging as a New Creative in Calderdale, using her artistic practice to illuminate forgotten narratives of marginalised communities, aiming to foster empathy and inspire social transformation. Through the New Creatives Traineeship, she aspires to grow as a visual artist, contributing to Halifax's vibrant art landscape, and advocating for fair and sustainable practices in her project exploring cocoa as a pedagogy, an art medium, an embodied absence of the past, and as the Cocoa Artist.
What inspired THE BODY OF WORK IN the ‘AFE BI Y3 SAN’ exhibition you have put together?
The inspiration behind the body of work I'm exhibiting runs deep in my Ghanaian cocoa farming heritage. Growing up, I was immersed in the rich tapestry of my culture, where each morning's recitation of the national pledge as a young primary school child, this portion of the national pledge resonates “I promise to hold in high esteem our heritage won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers.”
Photo by Matt Radcliffe of Afe Bi Y3 San by Adelle A’asante - The Everybody Gallery
These solemn words reminded me of the sacrifices of my ancestors. Heritage, for me, embodies beyond tangible artifacts but the profound sense of freedom earned through generations of toil and resilience.
However, my connection to Halifax, where I now reside, adds another layer to this narrative. Amidst my regular commute via the train station, at platform 1, I'm greeted by a colorful sign declaring "Quality Street, proudly made in Halifax since 1936." Yet, I couldn't help but feel that this celebrated story only scratched the surface, leaving untold contributions of countless places, spaces, and faces integral to its success.
This realization fueled my passion to shine a light on the lived experiences of cocoa farmers, whose resilience and struggles often go unnoticed. Their stories are not just about hardship but are also a story deeply sets in colonialism and testaments to the human spirit's triumph over adversity. In honoring their journeys, I hope to create art that not only celebrates their heritage but also restores their humanity. As my grandmother, Akosua Onyamaka, would say; when people are forgotten, their humanity is lost!
For me, this exhibition is a labor of love—a testament to the power of art to bridge cultures, evoke empathy, and spark meaningful dialogue. It's about recognizing the unsung heroes behind our daily pleasures and reclaiming their rightful place in history.
Through my work, I strive to uplift voices, foster understanding, and inspire positive change.
coULD YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS FOR THE PIECES IN THIS EXHIBITION?
My creative journey starts with spirited conversations within my tribe, a process which we have been deeply invested in for the past four years of gathering, curating, and sharing the profound human experiences that serve as the foundation of our work. It's an emotive dive into our collective story, blending research, intimate dialogues, and personal reflections. From this rich tapestry emerges a collaborative exploration of ideas, where we experiment with diverse mediums and techniques to give form to our narratives. Through continuous refinement and iteration, we strive to encapsulate the essence of each story within our artwork, resulting in a vibrant reflection of our shared human experience.
Have there been any underlying narratives within your artwork that you'd like to highlight?
An enduring theme in my artwork is the intertwining of humanity and the natural world, which calls for reparations as a gesture of healing and repair.
By delving into the narratives of cocoa farmers, I seek to bring to the fore, our collective duty to safeguard the environment and uplift marginalized communities. It's clear: we cannot talk about how the planet is in disrepair without talking about the vulnerable intersections of our human family at whose expense our planet has become disrepaired
Image of fans in Afe Bi Y3 San - Photo by Matt Radcliffe
Are there any anecdotes or memorable moments from the process of creating the artwork for this exhibition?
A poignant moment unfolded on March 6th of this year, as our tribe gathered online to commemorate Ghana's 67th independence anniversary through the sacred pod-breaking ceremony. It marked the culmination of diverse hands, thoughts, and talents converging to breathe life into our collective vision
This experience stirred within me a profound sense of gratitude and humility, especially witnessing the emotional resonance it evoked in individuals like Raymond Atanga a cocoa carrier, Nelson Donkor, Mrs Sintim- celebrated as Ghana's national best cocoa farmer 2023 and others from communities such as Tepa Kyekyewere and Tarkwa Bremen, our pilot project site. Despite the virtual nature of the installation, it served as a bridge connecting disparate worlds of consumers and cultivators, igniting a shared emotive experience.
The lasting impact of this moment underscores the necessity of perseverance in our life-affirming endeavors, despite the obstacles encountered along the way. From
financial constraints to navigating bureaucratic processes, each challenge reinforced the importance of our mission, culminating in the successful shipment of the Arts installation- the guardians hands and all its accompaniment to the gallery.
HOW HAS YOUR EXPERIENCE BEEN WITH THE NEW CREATIVES PROJECT?
The New Creatives program has been invaluable in providing support, mentorship, and resources to further develop my artistic practice. It has connected me with a community of artists and provided opportunities for growth and collaboration.
For so long, I have wondered if our world was ready for the big changes it's always spoken about: a future of justice and equity, where sustainability is more nuanced and centers vulnerable communities. The New Creatives program gave me the opportunity to bring to life what this dream could look like as a tangible art form.
About The New Creatives Project
Real living wage traineeship programmes
New Creatives is a training and mentorship programme that will help to kick start the careers of four emerging artists in Calderdale.
During their six-month paid placement, the successful candidates have the opportunity to earn, learn and create at the same time. They will gain valuable skills and mentoring tailored to their practise and will be supported in developing a new cultural activity that will engage and inspire the people of Calderdale to be more creative in their everyday lives. In October 2023 we were pleased to welcome the first two artists to the programme, Rachel Rea and Adelle A’asante. We’ll be sharing news about their journey as well as recruiting the next two positions in the spring of 2024.
With the support of Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council’s Culture Grants, New Creatives seeks to address some of the challenges and barriers that exist in the cultural sector by empowering the next generation of visual artists underrepresented by the cultural sector.
Kick-Start Your Career In The Arts
After delivering our first two successful traineeships we are now looking to recruit the next New Creatives to join our team. We want to find people with a brilliant idea for a creative project who just need the time, space, support and funds to bring it to life. Want to learn more? Read the guidance and follow this link to apply. The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd May at 5pm.
