Ibrahim Mahama wraps Barbican Centre in pink and purple fabric

Ibrahim Mahama, a Ghanaian artist born in 1987 in Tamale, is set to present his inaugural large-scale public artwork in the UK at the Barbican Centre in London, running from April 10 to September 18, 2024. Titled 'Purple Hibiscus,' the installation will adorn the Lakeside Terrace with 2,000 square meters of hand-stitched pink and purple fabric panels crafted by artisans in Tamale. The title draws inspiration from Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's novel published in 2003. Known for his monumental works, Mahama, the recipient of the 2021 Pascali Prize, produced the fabric panels at a local stadium, bolstering the economy. The piece also features approximately 100 traditional batakari robes, emphasizing cultural resilience. It forms part of the exhibition 'Unravel: The Power & Politics of Textiles in Art' (February 13–May 29, 2024).