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Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships
In Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships, artist Ekow Nimako explores what might have been when ruler Abu Bakr II chose to abdicate his throne and set out across the Atlantic. Using LEGO® to recreate epic possibilities, Nimako creates a narrative of Black civilizations and imagines liberated futures.
About the Show
This exhibition continues artist Ekow Nimako’s Afrofuturistic reimagining of ancient African kingdoms. Using LEGO® bricks as his medium, Nimako explores the mysterious 14th century sea voyage of the predecessor of Mansa Musa, ruler of the Mali Empire. According to legends, Abu Bakr II was an intrepid explorer. He abdicated his throne and took 2,000 ships on an expedition into the Atlantic, but never returned or was heard from again. Some accounts suggest the massive fleet reached as far as the Americas, but where they went beyond this is still unknown.
Combining architecture, historical accounts and fantastical possibilities, Nimako transcends the geometric form of LEGO® to recreate the epic voyage. In doing so, he presents an uninterrupted and unco-opted narrative of Black civilizations and imagines liberated futures.
About the Artist
Ekow Nimako is a Toronto-based, internationally exhibiting LEGO® artist who crafts futuristic and whimsical sculptures from the iconic medium. Rooted in his childhood hobby and intrinsic creativity, Nimako’s formal arts education and background as a lifelong multidisciplinary artist inform his process and signature aesthetic. His fluid building style, coupled with the Afrofuturistic themes of his work, beautifully transcend the geometric medium to embody organic and fantastical silhouettes.