Sharon Dede Padiki with the painting she drew at the event
Sharon Dede Padiki, CEO of Padiki Art Gallery, has responded to the backlash over her ‘unconventional’ painting of late highlife legend Daddy Lumba, created during his candlelight vigil at Independence Square.
The artwork, a cartoon caricature, sparked mixed reactions online, with some critics labelling it disrespectful while others applauded its creativity.
However, in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, Padiki explained that her style of painting was intentional and was a way to sedate the grieving crowd of fans and supporters who were gathered at the venue.
“Seeing the crowd multiplying, I wanted to calm them down instead of adding to their sorrows. I chose a caricature (an exaggerated and humorous art) to lighten the mood.
“I’m not a portrait painter; I work in abstracts. Even if I hadn’t done this, I’d have painted a symbolic piece about his life, not realism,” she said during a phone call interaction with Isaac Dadzie.
Kumasi candlelight vigil for Daddy Lumba postponed indefinitely
In response to the criticism, she said she remains unshaken, stating that art is intended to spark conversations and that this incident rather highlighted the ignorance towards art by Ghanaians.
“I don’t have a problem, and I don’t care, if an art piece is not criticised, it is not a masterpiece. Everyone has the freedom to express their opinions. We’re in a democratic society. There is freedom.
“It’s good; I love it, and I love educating people on it because it highlights their ignorance in art, and a lot of education is needed on art in Ghana, which I’m going to address seriously,” she said.
The painting, presented to Lumba’s family as a tribute, became a viral topic garnering thousands of reactions online.
Known for her bold projects, including a Guinness World Record attempt for a 168-hour paint-a-thon, Padiki continues to champion artistic freedom and female empowerment in Ghana’s art scene.
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Meanwhile, you can watch GhanaWeb TV’s exclusive interview with the ‘queen’ of décor, making strides since Rawlings’ era
