Emeka Ogboh: Nzuko – The Gathering

What was this modern building conceived for, if not as a meeting place? The Nigerian artist Emeka Ogboh takes the original social role of the space as the starting point for an entirely new one. Ogboh has covered the glass facades with the traditional drawings of the Nigerian Igbo community. These uli patterns were originally dyed onto the body or painted onto the outside walls of buildings. 

The foyer is filled with the sound of traditional choral folksongs, and furnished with cushions and stools upholstered with handwoven Igbo fabrics. The energetic voices pulse through the space, giving it a rhythmic heartbeat. The bright colours of the weavings and the voices of the singers give sensory insight into the cultural tradition and invite visitors to participate.

Ogboh has the handwoven Akwete cloth specially produced for each of his installations in Nigeria. For him they represent the rich legacy of the Igbo community.