2026 World Maritime Day: Danish Embassy organises “The Gulf of Guinea Speaks”
Under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence”, three commissioned artworks brought human ‑ centered creative perspectives to the diplomatic maritime‑security discussions.
On the occasion of the 2026 World Maritime Day and the 10th anniversary of Denmark's Maritime Security Programme for the Gulf of Guinea, the Royal Danish Embassy in Accra showcased "The Gulf of Guinea Speaks", a thought-provoking art exhibition held at the Ambassador's Residence. The theme of the event, "From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence", aimed to add a human-centric perspective to maritime-security discussions.
Curated by Fang Wang (Fang W. Linulf) and Essé Dabla-Attikpo, the exhibition featured three commissioned artworks created by Ghanaian artists. Patrick Tagoe-Turkson and Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku presented their unique interpretations of marine waste and coastal heritage through mixed-media assemblages. Tagoe-Turkson repurposed plastic flip-flops collected from Ghana's coastlines, while Aggrey Tieku constructed monumental installations using salvaged textiles.
Fang W. Linulf's pièce de résistance was a 100 sqm floor print, which merged ocean imagery with maritime geographic data. Visitors to the exhibition were given the opportunity to walk across the ocean, experiencing the Gulf of Guinea's geography in a tangible way. The artist explained that by transforming abstract maritime data into a bodily experience, the exhibition aimed to make the realities of the Gulf of Guinea coast more immediate and tangible for attending diplomats.
The co-curators, Fang W. Linulf and Essé Dabla-Attikpo, emphasized that while policies establish frameworks for maritime security, art uncovers the human and material stories often overlooked in official documents. Dabla-Attikpo highlighted that waste arriving on Ghanaian shores is not merely an environmental issue; it carries global trade histories.
The artists sought to give visibility to these hidden narratives through their rework of discarded materials, transforming waste into art to advocate for the ocean and coastal heritage.
The exhibition was attended by maritime practitioners, diplomats, and industry stakeholders, providing a platform for attendees to immerse themselves in maritime realities through sensory, material, and visual perspectives. The event successfully raised public awareness about the Gulf of Guinea's unique challenges, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in maritime governance.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
