Grada Kilomba: O Barco / The Boat

As part of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London 2022, Portuguese artist Grada Kilomba installed a 32-meter-long sculpture in the Somerset House courtyard. The work is titled O Barco / The Boat and is composed of 140 wood blocks, the configuration of which outlines the lower ‘hold’ of an historical European slave ship. Charred by the artist, the blocks contain poems in 6 different languages, intricately inscribed into their textured surfaces. The sculpture directly addresses the history of European maritime expansion and colonisation. Grada Kilomba's sculpture invites the audience to consider forgotten stories and identities. Alongside its sculptural elements, the artwork includes live performance, combining song, music, and dance, with music production by award-winning writer and musician Kalaf Epalanga. Designed and directed by the artist, the live ensemble brings new meaning to O Barco / The Boat, both acknowledging memories of the past and looking towards the future. Grada Kilomba: O Barco / The Boat. Installation and Performance, 1-54 London, Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Somerset House, London. October 14, 2022. #gradakilomba #154 #performanceart More videos on contemporary art, design, architecture: http://vernissage.tv Connect:   / vernissagetv     / vernissagetv     / vernissagetv   Browse our Archive: http://vernissage.tv/archive/posts/ Find Artists, Designers, Architects: http://vernissage.tv/archive/artists/ Art TV pioneer Vernissage TV provides you with an authentic insight into the world of contemporary fine arts, design and architecture. With its two main series "No Comment" and "Interviews", art tv channel VernissageTV attends opening receptions of exhibitions worldwide, interviews artists, designers, architects. VTV provides art lovers with news, reports and features from the international art scene. VernissageTV: the window to the art world. Das Fenster zur Kunstwelt. La fenêtre sur le monde de l'art. A janela para o mundo da arte. La ventana al mundo del arte. نافذة على عالم الفن. 到艺术世界的窗口。Окно в мир искусства. Since 2005.