Barbican Purple Hibiscus

Things are brightening up this spring as the Barbican unveil a full new display outside their main gallery space which is dressed in pink this April.

Ibrahim Mahama’s “Purple Hibiscus” comprises 2000 square metres of bespoke woven cloth, crafted by hundreds of craftspeople from Mahama’s hometown, Tamale with the name coming from a novel by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Embroidered in the hand-sawn purple and pink panels, Barbican-goers will be able to spot 100 “batakaris”, traditional Northern Ghanaian robes Mahama has collected by bartering with communities native to the region.

“Purple Hibiscus” is on show now at Barbican’s Lakeside Terrace and will be on display until the 18th of August.

barbican.org.uk/ibrahim-mahama-purple-hibiscus

Image via instagram.com/barbican_fan