Henritta Amea Boakye, The Emacipates Bird, 2023, 88cm x 58cm. Dept. of Textiles & Fashion Educ. University of Education, Winneba
Henrietta Amea Boakye was inspired by the creative works of Bisa Butler, a Ghanaian-American fiber artist who has created a new genre of quilting that has transformed the medium.
The artist employed different art techniques to recreate an image of the first Ghanaian female pilot, Miss Melody Millicent Danquah. She used embroidery, applique and quilting techniques in her work. She decided to clothe the lady in Ghanaian locally made fabric known as Gramophone Apawa, meaning gramophone disc which symbolizes happiness. She used her art work as a means of reflecting and recalling the happy memories, culture and traditions of her motherland, Ghana. She chose afrocentric hairstyle depicting, a unique hairstyle of a Ghanaian woman. The aeroplane at the background is designed with the colours of the flag of Ghana to depict the nationality of the pilot. She used her art work as a communication tool to communicate to the world on how Miss Melody Millicent Danquah contributed to nation development. The artwork is titled The Emancipated Bird, meaning the fact or process of women being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions.
Amea Boakye Henrietta, a Ghanaian born on 4th June,1994, is a Textiles and Fashion student-finalist of the University of Education, Winneba (Ghana). She is a fashion enthusiast. She is into garment construction and decorations and also a practicing hand embroidery designer. Her interest is in fashion, how to communicate to the world through fashion. Aside these, she takes a voluntary approach to educate the youth, especially ladies on the importance of learning vocational courses. She is an advocate for girl-child education.