The Watchtower, 2024

Kiluanji Kia Henda makes architectural steel sculptures derived from sand drawings, used by the Tchokwe people in East Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A storyteller draws these patterns in the sand, as part of a vocal storytelling culture. In the sound recording accompanying this work you hear such a storyteller.

The artist chooses to combine different forms, techniques and performers, each ‘making’ part of the piece. Some ritual actions create meaning together. For Kiluanji Kia Henda there is no distinction between the production process and the end result. Assistants and producers become the performers. Backstage becomes frontstage.

The ritual tradition in Central Africa, that inspired the artist, is in stark contrast with the way in which new cities are built today, with all their megalomanic skyscrapers and artificial computer architecture. Often, this ignores the history of a place, or the ecological impact on the environment. This creates, in Kia Henda’s opinion, an empty new world, haunted by the tales from the past.

Number 6 on the map.