Maya-Bantu

Kapwani Kiwanga
Maya-Bantu, 2019
Sisal fiber, metal and wire cable
Work: 460 x 695 x 468 cm

The monumental sculpture, Maya-Bantu (2019) is composed of sisal suspended from hanging steel frames. Originating from southeast Mexico, the resistant fiber was introduced to present­ day Tanzania by German settlers, once a part of the colony of German East Africa’s economy. Its production has since played a major role in Tanzanian economy, from the colonial era through independence. The installation grounds the artist’s exploration of materials with historical import and furthers her interest in relations of production.