Until August 18, the Barbican Centre is decked out in vibrant purple and pink, the brainchild of internationally renowned Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. His monumental work, “Purple Hibiscus“, invades the cultural center’s lakeside terrace, transforming the brutalist architecture into a shimmering 2,000-square-meter canvas of hand-woven fabric. This first large-scale public commission presented by Ibrahim Mahama in the UK is part of the exhibition “Unravel: The Power & Politics of Textiles in Art“, to be held at the Barbican Art Gallery from February 13, 2024.
“Purple Hibiscus” takes its name from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s novel of the same name, exploring themes of female identity, resistance and African heritage. Ibrahim Mahama‘s work is in the same vein, weaving a dialogue between tradition and modernity, craft and contemporary art. The work was woven and sewn by hand by hundreds of artisans in Tamale, Ghana, bearing the imprint of time and the individual stories of the craftsmen.
As part of a process of exchange and barter with local northern communities, the artist collected and integrated into his grandiose work some one hundred “batakaris“, traditional garments worn by the royalty and people of northern Ghana. These fabrics of great historical and cultural value, silent witnesses of generations, tell stories of life, lineage and power. Worn, faded and marked by years of use, they embody the durability of ancestral beliefs and the transmission of knowledge between generations. Beyond its aesthetic dimension, “Purple Hibiscus” highlights the African artist’s deep commitment to local communities and Ghanaian craftsmanship. The creation of the work involved the close collaboration of networks of women weavers and sewing collectives, thus contributing to the dynamism of local economies.
Installed on the terrace overlooking the lake at the Barbican, “Purple Hibiscus” takes on a new dimension. The cultural center, built on the former parish of Cripplegate, once the nerve center of London’s textile trade, provides an ideal setting for this reflection on power and the importance of collective work. Ibrahim Mahama’s work confronts the Barbican’s brutalist architecture, creating a fascinating dialogue between the rigor of concrete and the fluidity of textiles. The hand-sewn panels, contrasting with the center’s raw concrete facade, invite reflection on the place of art in public space and the role of artists in transforming our environment. True to his conviction that art belongs to everyone, Ibrahim Mahama is committed to making his work accessible to as many people as possible. His work transcends the boundaries of galleries and museums, taking over public spaces and inviting the public into an immersive, interactive artistic experience.
In parallel with the exhibition at the Barbican, the contemporary artist continues his commitment to Ghana through the Red Clay Studio and the Savannah Center for Contemporary Art in Tamale, spaces dedicated to art education and contemporary creation. “Purple Hibiscus” is part of this inclusive approach, offering a platform for visibility to Ghanaian artists and their unique artistic practices. Ibrahim Mahama’s work, with its expressive power and committed message, is an invitation to rethink notions of identity, memory and the transformative power of art.
The artist expresses the Barbican’s commitment to celebrating the world’s artistic diversity through its unique spaces. By including “Purple Hibiscus” in its innovative program, the Barbican confirms its position as a leader in the promotion of new artistic works in the UK. This exciting initiative brings the Barbican’s iconic architecture to life by inviting contemporary artists to create works in harmony with its surroundings, offering unique and inspiring artistic experiences to a wide audience.