Mediator

Tei Mensah Huagie (Tei) graduated from Ghanatta College of Art, Ghana with a diploma in painting in 1994. In 1995-1996 he apprenticed with Amon Kotei, a renowned painter and designer of Ghana's national coat of arms, and in 1997, with Sowatey Adjei, another famous Ghanaian artist. Founder of the CLOTHONCLOTH DESIGN label, Tei has been earning his income as a tailor and fabric designer. Making art is his passion even if selling it does not pay all the bills.
Tei designs and manufactures a variety of artwork, from armchairs with upholstery made of recuperated plastic bags, to articles of clothing made of old cans. Beneath his playful approach lies a serious objective—to raise awareness of his fellow citizens about social issues, such as illiteracy, pollution and civic rights.
Mediator, a large-scale in-relief composition with three figures holding hands, was assembled from old pieces of roofing sheet metal that Tei collected around Accra. He sewed these pieces together by hand using electrical wire as thread. It is one of Tei’s favorite pieces as it speaks of peacemaking and good neighborhood. The artist explained that in the context of urban sprawl when social and economic tensions in the community are on the rise, making an effort for negotiating and coming to an agreement becomes more and more important.