Digital Editions
Newsletters
Subscribe
Digital Editions
Newsletters
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Art market
Museums & heritage
Exhibitions
Books
Podcasts
Columns
Technology
Adventures with Van Gogh
Performance art
news

Artist stages 'slave ship' installation at London building that once housed British Navy offices

Grada Kilomba's multilingual work is part of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House

Louisa Buck
13 October 2022
Share
Grada Kilomba’s work, O Barco/The Boat (2021) represents the hold of a historical European slave ship Richard Thompson

Grada Kilomba’s work, O Barco/The Boat (2021) represents the hold of a historical European slave ship Richard Thompson

The 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair is marking its tenth anniversary on a powerfully sombre note with the first-time UK showing of the Portuguese artist Grada Kilomba’s striking 32m-long installation that occupies the main courtyard of Somerset House.

O Barco/The Boat (2021) consists of 140 charred wooden blocks configured in the outline of the hold of a historical European slave ship. Each tomb-like rectangle has been individually charred, and several are inscribed with poems translated into African languages, including Yoruba, Kimbundu and Creole as well as English, Portuguese and Arabic. This grim reminder of European expansion and colonisation is rendered all the more potent given the history of Somerset House as the former home of Britain’s Navy Board.

This week, the work is being animated by two hour-long performances (one last night and one at 1pm today). These live works are designed and directed by the artist, with a multigenerational ensemble of collaborators of African descent using dance, song and poetry to revive these forgotten histories.

Performance artFrieze London 20221-54 Contemporary African Art FairSlaveryColonialism
Share
Subscribe to The Art Newspaper’s digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox.
Newsletter sign-up
Information
About
Contact
Cookie policy
Data protection
Privacy policy
Frequently Asked Questions
Subscription T&Cs
Terms and conditions
Advertise
Sister Papers
Sponsorship policy
Follow us
Instagram
Bluesky
LinkedIn
Facebook
TikTok
YouTube
© The Art Newspaper

Related content

The Buck stopped hereblog
24 August 2016

Neo Naturists give birth to new recruits at ICA extravaganza

Louisa Buck
Technologynews
6 February 2019

Marina Abramovic to make digital appearance at London's Serpentine Galleries

Performance using cutting-edge Magic Leap One device is world first

Gareth Harris
Royal Academy of Artsreview
12 March 2024

Catalogue for Royal Academy’s ‘Entangled Pasts’ show unpacks the institution’s problematic past

A collection of essays and biographies takes an innovative approach to exploring the RA’s role in creating a canon of art founded in empire and enslavement

Beth Williamson
Exhibitionsblog
4 March 2016

The Buck Stopped Here: Stuart Brisley, the 82-year-old durational marathon man

Louisa Buck