‘We are preserving a tradition’: how Ghana’s sensationalist film posters became collectible art
Summary
Hand-painted film posters became a unique art form in Ghana from the late 1970s to early 2000s, created to attract viewers to local video clubs. Though the practice declined with the rise of home video technology, it has experienced renewed interest globally, supported by businesses like Deadly Prey Gallery that connect Ghanaian artists with international collectors.Key Facts
- Ghanaian artists painted colorful, imaginative movie posters on flour sacks to advertise films in neighborhood video clubs.
- The posters often added dramatic or unrelated elements to make them more eye-catching.
- This hand-painted poster tradition started in the late 1970s and faded by the early 2000s as more people got TVs and video players.
- Interest in these posters revived due to online marketing and international demand, especially from the US.
- Deadly Prey Gallery was founded in 2012 to preserve this art and help artists sell their work worldwide.
- The gallery works with 15 artists, including Heavy J and Stoger, who have painted for decades.
- Popular poster themes include action, horror, and science fiction films like The Exorcist, Star Wars, and Terminator.
- Commissioned posters can sell for $600 or more and are shipped internationally.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
