"We should not lose our indigenous values but rather create with them."
Born in 1964, Tetteh Mpata has been practicing art since the age of 17, his work always filled with a sense of uniqueness and creative passion. He elaborates fantastic visions based in the beauty and history of his surroundings. He treats themes such as trade, music, dance, and fishing with compelling maturity. His work has been well received in several exhibitions within Ghana, as well as in Beirut, Lebanon. Currently some of his paintings are on display at the Ghanaian embassy in Washington, D.C., as well as Ghawaco in Ontario, Canada.
When asked about his impressions regarding art, Mpata maintains that "the idea of trying to paint like someone because he or she is making it should stop, because this stifles the growth of art in the contemporary scene. Rather, artists could take inspiration from rich sources and be creative in the systematic process as a means of improving on the present. We should not lose our indigenous values but rather create with them."
Says Mpata, "Art is with me and will continue to be with me for a long time."