Kapwani Kiwanga's Political Abstractions at Fundació Miró

Kapwani Kiwanga's retrospective 'Estats canviants' at Fundació Joan Miró in Barcelona runs from April 30 to September 13, 2026. The exhibition features new textile works with pockets inspired by Miró's habit of carrying a carob pod. Kiwanga, born in 1978, studied anthropology and comparative religion before art school. Her works use materials like sisal, gold leaf, mahogany, and glass beads to critique colonial and post-colonial trade dynamics. Sisal sculptures evoke drying methods in East Africa, while mahogany pieces reference slave labor in Belize and the Caribbean. The artist also employs non-precious materials like sand to highlight extraction damage. Ceramic tiles contain ashes from campfire discussions on decolonization and resource extraction. Curator Martina Millà notes the works reveal 'ecosystemic tensions' and 'interweaving of desire, value, and exploitation.' Kiwanga's abstract, geometric style seduces viewers while exposing historical violence.