Rich in patterns and vibrant in colors, fabrics can be used not only for making clothes but also pieced together by artists to create a variety of textile paintings. Recently, White Cube presented the first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and Greater China by African artist Ibrahim Mahama, showcasing a selection of colorful fabric paintings. The artist pushes the boundaries of flat artwork, exploring cultural identity and ethnic history through unique materials.
The exhibition is titled “Half of a Yellow Sun,” inspired by a novel that focuses on the Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s. For artists, this period of independence from British colonial rule across Africa has always been a source of inspiration. Mahama says, “This is an African story, accompanied by thoughts of freedom that transcend chaos.”
右：《 Teacher don’t teach me nonsense》 2013 – 2022
courtesy of the artist and White Cube
courtesy of the artist and White Cube
courtesy of the artist and White Cube
The artist has collected collage materials from various places over the past few years, including fabrics from markets across Ghana in Africa. These intricate, brightly colored “Dutch wax print” fabrics originated in the 19th century, using traditional Indonesian batik designs but produced on a larger scale due to lower production costs than authentic wax prints. Dutch merchants found a market for imitation wax prints in West African port cities at the time, which were quickly modified to incorporate designs inspired by Africa, becoming a symbol of African design and culture.
These textiles represent a celebration of ethnic and pan-African identity diversity, and when Mahama brings all these fabric scraps together, he is actually layering different histories, cultural paradigms, concrete and abstract forms, showcasing a part of the colonial heritage.
The artist has been collecting discarded fabrics from various markets in Ghana since early years, thus establishing an extensive material archive. In addition to the aforementioned batik fabrics, there are also many rough jute fabrics. These different styles of materials are layered to form a rich visual language, becoming alternative ready-made creations.
Feel free to visit the exhibition and appreciate how the artist creates colorful and vibrant artworks using fabric collage!
“Half of a Yellow Sun”
Date: From now until May 14 (Sunday, closed on Monday)
Time: 11 am to 7 pm
Location: 50 Connaught Road Central, Central
Image source and learn more: White Cube
