Alternative Fruit
Alternative Fruit
  • Alternative Fruit
  • Grotto
  • Donate
  • Shop Partners
    • Amazon
    • eBay.com
    • eBay.co.uk
    • Posters
    • Sunday Times Wine Club
    • The New York Times Store
  • Alternative Fruit
  • Grotto
  • Donate
  • Shop Partners
    • Amazon
    • eBay.com
    • eBay.co.uk
    • Posters
    • Sunday Times Wine Club
    • The New York Times Store

Choose Love

Parliament Of Ghosts – One Artist's Vision For Repurposing Old Train Seats | Alternative Fruit

10/7/2019

Comments

 
Ibrahim Mahama
We've all likely sat in the cheap seats at one point in our lives, Ghana's second class rail carriages had everything you'd expect. Plastic, hard-backed seats riddled with etchings and scratches. When the carriages finally went to the train wreckers, an opportunity arose for another type of rec. Reclamation of the seats fell into the hands of Ibrahim Mahama, one of Africa's rising arts stars.


The parliament structure of Ghana looks a lot like that of the UK. A three way debating area is represented by three sides of seats. The main rows on the left and right contain more chairs than the shorter front row. This exact layout has been replicated in the train chairs by Ibrahim in Manchester's Whitworth Gallery. He's already known for reclaiming other people's junk and showing how it can be given meaning and purpose. This display in the North of England takes his message even further away from his home.


Included in the exhibit are also a batch of old train worker lockers. These old cases have been used by grubby and hard working mechanics and engineers. The stains, wear and tear, textures, and no doubt aromas of the lockers really symbolise effort and teamwork. These have been set out along the back of the parliament set-up to represent the official chambers and shelving in the original building.


Ibrahim Mahama hopes that the exhibition will encourage people to take part in their own debates. A civilian parliament chamber might not be a bad idea, especially if an official channel was made available for the outcome of such meetings to reach elected individuals. The 120 seats of the display could all be filled in little time for so many debating issues that permeate Manchester and beyond. Maybe every city should have one of these? It's a celebration of democracy, the rule of law, and the power of the human voice. Running something like a nation is something we all probably think we'd like to do at one time or other, maybe discovering how it works in practice can separate the dreamers from the realists.


It's ironic in a way that the seats find their way back to the UK. It was British colonialism which brought the rail-network to Ghana many years ago. The parliament style wasn't the only thing they adopted, it seems. As democratic process saw the end of British colonialism, when new generations could no-longer justify to themselves the means of empire, establishing the Commonwealth ensured that our roots and heritages are respected as well as sovereign independence. Perhaps Hong Kong would like to join?


For all its benefits, the parliament system has its flaws. This exhibit also wants to put these across. Look at the deadlock in British politics, for example, with poverty hitting people hard and a nationalist main agenda. Perhaps if parliament was extended to cities and civilians then pressing issues would reach the surface more often? It takes a particular skill-set to become an elected member of parliament, as well as the financial backing of a party, business, or union. Is it right that the route to power be so narrow and only fit for people of a certain grooming?  

​Via the BBC
​
Parliament of Ghosts by I Mahama
Any Course Save Up to 97% Now at John Academy Online Courses
ARTdiscount Student Art Supplies
Comments
    Picture
     Choose Love on Alternative Fruit is reader supported. Because of you, more people get to discover creativity and art for themselves.  Thank you so much!


    Jewellery Maker's Free Catalogue
    ​
    Shop To Support:

    Signed Photographs

    Antique Books

    Rare Vinyl Records
    ​Choose Love Home

    Alternative Fruit Home
    Alternative Fruit
    Ktafx
    John Academy
    Art.com
    Follow the editor on Twitter
    Join Grammarly's Affiliate Program
    Save $25 and get Free Shipping when you checkout with PayPal and enter code: PAYPALGIFT
    Alternative Fruit
    Homepage
    House of Holland

    RSS Feed

    ARTdiscount Artists Paints Bannerbutton

    Archives

    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    June 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014

Shop to Support Alternative Fruit
  • ​Posters and Prints
  • ​Vintage Clothing
  • Free Education​
  • Flights
​Thanks for supporting Alternative Fruit
Read our Privacy Policy here
For people, for peace, with love.
​Made in the UK by Homunculus Media