Cathy's Art Diary

Dramatic installation at the Barbican by Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama. The work was a huge pink, handwoven covering for the top of the building with 100 ‘batakaris’, robes worn by Ghanaian kings, embroidered onto it. The pink and purple panels were made by hundreds of craftspeople from Tamale in Ghana and in the foyer is a fascinating video on the making of it and a chance to feel the material. Close up it was more nuanced than it looks at a distance. I loved the dramatic effect, particularly the way that it reflects on the buildings around it and the way it is shaped around the architecture of the building. It is also fun to see it from inside in the upper floors. Closes 18 August 2024 Reviews Times Telegraph

Beautiful exhibition at White Cube Bermondsey of new work by Ibrahim Mahama. Most of the work in the show were collages using archive material, colonial maps, bank notes, pages from ledgers and pictures of bats to reflect the layered history of the artists home country, Ghana. I loved the repletion of the bat motif which was also reflected in an installation of large bats hanging from the ceiling in one of the 9x9x9 gallery. Most magical however was the installation in the largest room. I was reflectively looking at the collages when I was surprised by a loud noise almost like a low helicopter! As I turned the corner into the back part of the room, I found a space full of old sewing machines on desks which were wired up to start working at regular intervals. The noise swept towards you as they started to work. The press release says “the works come together to address the passage of time, the notion of obsolescence and the potential for regeneration”. I’m not sure I got all of t...