Otobong Nkanga: Bruises and Lustre

Otobong Nkanga is the inaugural artist invited to participate in the new IN SITU programme at M HKA. Nkanga has developed a multifaceted artistic practice over the last decade, offering active proposals for considering some of the most urgent issues of the present time. She has made artworks about the relations between the natural landscape, labour, people and their exploitation. One of the central concerns in her work is for considering the relationship between the extraction of raw minerals in one place, and the processing of these materials for producing commodity items in another. Her exhibition Bruises and Lustre looks at all sides of this equation. Nkanga's artworks, whether in drawing, performance, sculpture or any other media, are built around a more holistic understanding of place, time and thing. For this exhibition, the artist has created new large-scale tapestries and a carpet for display alongside recent sculptures and drawings. Together, these elements form the setting for a series of performances throughout the duration of the exhibition. Otobong Nkanga lives and works in Antwerp.

Performance dates: October 15, November 28, December 17 and January 7

Bruises and Lustre is the fourth and final chapter in a series of projects by Nkanga, that began with In Pursuit of Bling at the 8th Berlin Biennial; followed by Crumbling Through Powdery Air at Portikus, Frankfurt; and Comot your Eyes Make I Borrow You Mine at the Kadist Art Foundation, Paris.

Otobong Nkanga has made a limited edition vinyl record to accompany this exhibition, which is a spoken-word audio piece by the artist titled WETIN YOU GO DO?. The record is published by Knots Audio and is available from the M HKA.

An extensive catalogue will be co-published in 2016 by M HKA, Portikus and Kadist Art Foundation.

Hüseyin Bahri Alptekin: Democratic Luxury and Otobong Nkanga: Bruises and Lustre are curated by Nav Haq.

October 15, with performance by Otobong Nkanga at 9pm