Brick-by-brick, Canadian artist Ekow Nimako re-imagined ancient African kingdoms by building and envisioning a journey based off a medieval historic account, but with futuristic elements. And now, his work is on display at the .
For Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships, Nimako explored the mysterious 14th-century sea voyage of Mansa Abu Bakr II, the predecessor of Mansa Musa, and ruler of the ancient Mali Empire.
The Toronto artist learned about Bakr II香蕉视频直播檚 story from his wife. He was immediately fascinated but at the same time disappointed that he didn香蕉视频直播檛 know about the story already. Nimako said his creations came from a desire to discover as he re-imagined a narrative and gave it architecture, substance and geography. Part of this is also because the end of the journey is not known.
香蕉视频直播淢ost of those stories are based on conquest,香蕉视频直播� Nimako says. 香蕉视频直播淢ost of those stories end up with depravity or colonization and this one to me was something that was based on more of a pure desire to discover.香蕉视频直播�
Nimako has been creating art with Lego for more than a decade and was inspired by famous Lego builders. There香蕉视频直播檚 a difference between the two, he notes 香蕉视频直播� he香蕉视频直播檚 an artist first, while the material is second. About four years ago, the Lego Group started showing support for his career.
香蕉视频直播淭hat has become really, really helpful and it香蕉视频直播檚 helped to get my work out in front of so many people, which I absolutely appreciate,香蕉视频直播� Nimako says.
Despite the partnership, the artist confirms none of the Lego pieces are custom. Of the millions of pieces used, they are all standard pieces everybody has access to. Nimako says in his case, he has many Lego pieces that are discontinued and those are the hardest ones to find.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a finite amount of those parts existing in the world, but I香蕉视频直播檓 not privy to them in any way more than anyone else, 香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淓veryone has the access to buy these parts, find them and collect them.香蕉视频直播�
The artwork is built entirely out of black Lego pieces, and Nimako has three reasons for that. The first is that it香蕉视频直播檚 practical.
香蕉视频直播淏lack parts are copious and they香蕉视频直播檙e diverse,香蕉视频直播� he says. 香蕉视频直播淭he Lego group probably makes the most amount of parts in black so if I香蕉视频直播檓 looking for a specific part to achieve a certain kind of artistic goal, odds are that it香蕉视频直播檚 going to appear in black.香蕉视频直播�
Black is also his favourite colour 香蕉视频直播� most of his wardrobe is black and he calls it a 香蕉视频直播渟ophisticated香蕉视频直播� colour.
香蕉视频直播淭he concept of it is fascinating, too, because it contains everything and nothing at the same time,香蕉视频直播� Nimako adds. 香蕉视频直播淵ou know, when you think about the infinite cosmos and space and black holes, there is something just so expansive about it. But at the same time, it can represent nothingness and shadow and an absence.香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播�
The third reason is the most important to him, to represent Black children and make sure their ethnicity is in the forefront.
香蕉视频直播淚 build figurative sculptures, mainly of children, which is that their ethnicity won香蕉视频直播檛 be denied because when you香蕉视频直播檙e using black parts and you香蕉视频直播檙e referring to these sculptures or viewing them, they will always inherently be Black children,香蕉视频直播� Nimako says. 香蕉视频直播淪o that reinforcement of their identity, of these characters that I create a lot of the times, which are spiritual entities like Kwaku Enansi or Mami Wata, which are both pretty prominent spiritual entities in African and Afro-diasporic culture, those identities are just fortified when I make them in black.香蕉视频直播�
His art also relates to his identity and cultural perspective from growing up in a Gandhian household and experiencing racism growing up and seeing racism in some of the works he loved growing up.
Building in black also removes what he calls the 香蕉视频直播淟egoness香蕉视频直播� from the art.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 one of the things that Lego parts and Lego building culture is known for, is just having all these colours and all of these textures. But to me, it香蕉视频直播檚 always about simplifying. I like to take away and through that process of taking away and stripping away things like colour, you get to see how alive and the various textures that exist with different parts.香蕉视频直播�
Where the art takes shape is in the different textures and nuances of the pieces 香蕉视频直播� if they香蕉视频直播檙e glossy, matte, grainy or rubberized, the light reflects on the pieces in different ways.
香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 an interplay of light and shadow that happens all throughout the artwork where you香蕉视频直播檙e seeing little parts glitter and catch light in certain ways,香蕉视频直播� Nimako explains. 香蕉视频直播淎nd then you香蕉视频直播檙e seeing other parts draw in light and dull it so those textures are what is appealing to me, not the texture or the idea of using multiple colours, but muting all of that so that there香蕉视频直播檚 a stillness. And that is what I think contributes to my work being regarded as what it is, which is contemporary art objects and not like a Lego build.香蕉视频直播�
Building Black Civilizations originally debuted at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto in 2019. Nimako said the original exhibit didn香蕉视频直播檛 have as strong of a narrative as it does now. This exhibit, the Journey of 2,000 Ships, debuted at the Dunlop Gallery in Regina, Sask., and Nimako has wanted to tour the exhibit for a while.
The exhibit will be at the Kelowna Art Gallery from through Aug. 31, and Nimako hopes when viewers encounter the artwork, they 香蕉视频直播渋magine beyond what they香蕉视频直播檝e often been presented.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淚magine beyond the stories of history that were taught in school 香蕉视频直播� like the finite stories of history,香蕉视频直播� Nimako says. 香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 so many different aspects of cultures around the world that have been silenced, muted, appropriated, stamped out. And this body of work is in many ways bringing stories into the forefront that have often been forgotten or overlooked. And if it香蕉视频直播檚 not that aspect that I want people to walk away with, it香蕉视频直播檚 then more focus on the materiality and just what is possible using this material that we all know and love.香蕉视频直播�
As part of the exhibit, there is an 香蕉视频直播渋maginarium area香蕉视频直播� where guests can use art supplies to sketch their ideas of a world fuelled by their imagination. The Art Lab in the gallery will also be transformed into a 香蕉视频直播淟ego Making Space香蕉视频直播� where attendees can express their creativity by building their creations.
香蕉视频直播淚 love to see kids want to get out that tactility that LEGO invites because I know if I was seeing this as a kid, I need to play with something, you know, like right away,香蕉视频直播� Nimako says with a laugh.
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