User:Keilah182k/sandbox

JOE POLLITT

(Born in London, 1970 ) is a British Artist, writer and a true “Afropollittan” inspired by everything African. He is the second son to Stanley Pollitt, better known as the “Father ofAccount planning” in the advertising world. Siblings: Elder sisters, Katy and Tessa Pollitt, the bass player for the Slits and an elder brother James W. F. Pollitt and younger brother Benjamin H. Pollitt. His short-lived career in advertising began at Boase Massimi Pollitt from 1988 to 1990. He then moved to NYC from 1991 to 1993 to work in the Television Department atDDB Worldwide. His interest in Africa started in 1994 when he took on a voluntary position as the “Artistic Cultural Ambassador for Ghana” as part of a UNESCO programme, a job he created himself whilst visiting the studios of various contemporary artists in Accra and Kumasi. The greatest support in the early years came from Kwame Bajoki-Hume, an artistic leader based in the Kumasi Cultural Centre and Yabbi Afrikabba at the Cultural Centre in Accra. On meetings held in secret in Capital, It became clear that the support for artists in Ghana was virtually nonexistent. The situation has since slightly improved with various Foundations being created and a growing interest in the Arts from the British Council, Alliance Francaise and private collectors. Over the following decade Joe travelled extensively across Africa; visiting the artist’s studios of the Watatu Gallery, Banana Hill Art Galleries and the GoDown Arts Centre but he was more impressed with the artists found in Uganda, those that studied at the Margaret Trowell School of Industrial and Fine Arts, artists such as Dr. Lilian Nabulime, Dr. Philip Kwesiga, Bruno Bruno Sserunkuuma, Dr. Kirumira Rose Namubiru, Eria Sane Nsubuga, Henry Mzili Mujunga, Sheila Nakitende and Prince Wasswa Donald from Kyambogo University. In 2000 Joe was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a blood related Cancer and this triggered an initial visit to Paris to meet with the "King of Africa", Monsieur Charly D’Almeida to gain his insights into Voodou from the Republic of Benin. Charly generously invited him to his home in Cotonou in 2003 to explore and understand the rich heritage of Voodou. This extraordinary journey developed into an exhibition in Brixton on the frontline at the Bettie Morton Gallery on Atlantic Road entitled, Living with Voodoo, artists included Suzanne Ouedragou (Burkina Faso), Soly Cisse (Senegal) Twins Seven Seven (Nigeria) Chief Jerimoh Buraimah (Nigeria), Emmanuel Kavi (Togo), Charly D’Almeida (the Republic of Benin). In 2003 he set up the African Painters website and the blogAfrican Painters which Promoted & highlighted numerous artists from across the Continent. The site created an open platform for discussion on politics and the Arts of Contemporary Africa. The site was hacked by the Dictator Ben Ali’s Government in Tunisia after his writing about and visit to Tunis and the death of Néjib Belkhodja in 2007, this cultural unrest coupled with political turmoil prompted the Arab Spring in 2010. Undeterred by this online attack a few months later a follow-up site was created African Artists, better known as, “the Unseen Art Scene” –Unseen ArtScene which continues to make the invisible, visible by promoting and pushing for an Unbiased Look at Africa’s Rich Cultural Heritage and how it has Influenced Many Artists around the World.

He Also created a YouTube Channel with a collection of Videos About Art SeeAfricanwell .The blog has also proven to be a very rich source on Contemporary & Tribal Art in Africa, ,it's been Listed by the Stanford library as a good Source of Information on African ArtStandford University. In 2009 and with the aid and support of Emma Youngs (Sister Nurse, Peter Pan Ward at Great Ormond Street Hospital) together they put on a magnificent exhibition in central London at the Coningsby Gallery, 30 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RJ - "It's Never Too Late to Become A Man ", a title taken from the work created by South African Artist, Norman O’Flynn from Cape Town Artists included in particular Show  Norman O’Flynn, Charly D’Almeida, George Afedzi HughesGeorge O. Hughes, Colleen Madamombe, MONA and Suzanne Ouedragou. Ceramics by Bruno Sserunkuuma, Dr Philip Kwesiga. Glass Artwork by Lothar Bottcher. Video Artwork by Kisito Assangui, Miguel Petchovsky and Ingrid MwangiRobertHutter

OTHER WORKS

malangatana-ngwenya-obituary This was Also Quoted in A Journal of International Political Graphics & Culture, Volume 2  By Alec Dunn, Josh MacPhee

He also Commissioned Susan Ouedraogo to do a Work Via Ronald Young From Essen,Germany On Female Circumcision, the which was echoed by Global VoicesGlobal voicesonline and other Sources, The Work has since gone Missing.

http://www.maafanta.com/momodouceesayjoepollitt