Always following the trail of Lakwena's graphic art, I headed down to the Southbank Centre a day before the opening of Africa Utopia to see her setting up. Since her 3D relief pieces as part of the "Africa Calling" showcase last year, this time she was commissioned by the actual event to fill the space. The site specific installations were puzzle-pieced together in both paper panels and shapes that were cut out of vinyl like giant sticker sheets.
"Looking back to the flurry of African nations gaining thier independence from the 1950s to the 1970s, these installations echo an optimism reflected in the aesthetic of the moment - the motifs and symbols used in the flags of new nations, the Modernist architecture of new buildings, the stars and icons adorning album covers. Several decades on, these installations act as a reminder and encourages us to hold on to those original hopes and dreams"
If like me, you're a fan of Lakwena's mural movement, see her talk at a free event next week at Rich Mix - see more details here.
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