Page 14 - Designing Ways 260

TRADE WINDS

Sudan, Mayada Adil El Sayed, Benin Louis Houenoude for Salon de
White is a colour of movement Burundi, Margaux Wong arm jewellery Peinture Grand Popo, Beninese Style
Design Indaba partners with Google to South Africa, Bonolo Chepape, tapestry artwork

showcase the continent’s creatives
through “Colours of Africa”

s Africans, we tell powerful stories Bensaadi, fashion designer Bisrat Negassi
through colour, and today’s from Eritrea, filmmaker Archange
Alaunch of “Colours of Africa” by Kiyindou “Yamakasi” from the Republic
Design Indaba in partnership with Google of Congo and visual artist Ngadi Smart
Arts & Culture brings this vividly to life. from Sierra Leone.
The unique online project showcases 60 The first artistic undertaking of this
specially curated artworks produced by scale, the project enables viewers to
over 60 African creatives, each invited to discover the stories of Africa as told by the
contribute a work that captures the colour African creative community. The artworks
and character of their home country. are showcased online, where users are
“Africa is known for its bold, invited to spin a kaleidoscope to explore
unapologetic use of colour. Each country, the works in a virtual journey through the
city and community is identifiable by palette of Africa, viewing each country
its unique palette,” says Design Indaba’s through the eyes of a local artist. “This
founder Ravi Naidoo, who selected the project tells a story of a continent through
featured creatives from a wide range of a universally accessible lens,” says Naidoo.
disciplines, from architecture, illustration, To bring the project to life, Design
painting and ceramics through to writing, Indaba enlisted former Design Indaba Nothing of this kind has been done before,
engineering, the performing arts and conference speaker Noel Pretorius and says Naidoo. “We’re very excited to break
visual communications. Their creations his creative partner, Elin Sjöberg, who new ground. This is an important artistic
have been converted into images, videos, collaborated with Google Arts & Culture catalogue, the first of its kind to plot the
texts and illustrations, showcasing the Lab to create the design concept and expanse of African artistry on Google Arts
best of African craft, product, industrial interface for the digital exhibition. The & Culture. We salute Google for taking this
design, fashion, film, animation, graphic, kaleidoscopic navigation tool can be used important step to provide the world with a
food, music, jewellery and architecture. to explore the art in a randomised way, resource like this – not everyone can afford
The multidisciplinary mix of artists giving the visitor a unique experience to travel here, or access physical art fairs and
includes Algerian photographer Ramzy while allowing the art itself to shine. museums to view this kind of work.”

Ghana, Kobby Toons Mauritius, vincent montocchio, yellow camouflage Zambia, Aaron Mulenga, The Afronauts

14 Issue 260 • dw