The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has announced an exciting new commission by Nigerian-Belgian artist Otobong Nkanga. Titled "Otobong Nkanga: Cadence," this site-specific installation will open in the Donald and Catherine Marron Family Atrium on October 10, 2024, marking Nkanga's first solo presentation in New York.
Set to run through June 8, 2025, the exhibition promises an immersive environment that combines sculpture, sound, and text to explore the rhythms of ecological life cycles and social upheaval. The centerpiece of the installation will be a monumental tapestry suspended along the Atrium's highest wall, showcasing Nkanga's innovative use of custom metallic, natural, and synthetic fibres created using advanced digital weaving techniques.
Visitors will encounter hanging sculptures composed of dyed ropes interwoven with hand-blown glass and ceramic forms, suspended from floor to ceiling. These will be complemented by ceramic tablets imprinted with poems penned by the artist herself. An enchanting sound work created by Nkanga will further enhance the multisensory experience.
Michelle Kuo, MoMA's Chief Curator at Large and Publisher, praised Nkanga's ability to change our understanding of Earth and our place within it. "Her art confronts both the beauty and the degradation of the natural world—and its upheaval in the wake of industrial revolutions, resource extraction, and war," Kuo stated.
Nkanga expressed her excitement about the commission, saying, "My works connect us to our shared histories, not just through land and geography, but through emotions shaped by events and encounters. These are the cadences of life, formed by turbulence and hope."
The artist, known for her multidisciplinary approach, will construct much of the site-specific installation over several weeks in the Marron Atrium, hand-sculpting and arranging many elements in situ. A live performance is also planned for spring 2025, adding another layer to this dynamic exhibition.
Otobong Nkanga, born in 1974 in Kano, Nigeria, has garnered international acclaim for her work. She is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Nasher Prize (2025) and the inaugural Lise Wilhelmsen Art Award (2019). Her art has been exhibited in major institutions worldwide, including Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou, and the 58th Venice Biennale.
"Otobong Nkanga: Cadence" is organized by Michelle Kuo with Elizabeth Wickham, Curatorial Assistant in the Department of Painting and Sculpture. The exhibition receives leadership support from the Steven A. and Lisa Tananbaum Endowment for Contemporary Art Commissions and The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art, with generous funding provided by The Black Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art.
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