In 'Compressed Time', the striking contrast between solid stones and a sleek black glass cube might inspire the questions on the unknown history of human civilization and footsteps of our existence through the heritage of ancient cultures. The rough, natural stones represent the enduring struggles and resilience of

Black communities through history, while the glass cube signifies the complexities and opacity of these narratives. When illuminated in a gallery setting, the sculpture emanates a sci-fi effect, evoking a

sense of mystery and otherworldliness. This juxtaposition of materials and themes invites viewers to contemplate the intersection of past injustices and future possibilities, creating a thought-provoking

dialogue on power, memory, and transformation.

'18 Verses' is an installation by Grada Kilomba formed by a poem composed of 18 verses, written by the artist, engraved and hand painted on wood pieces, each of which was carefully burned and is displayed in the exhibition room and immersed in a sonorous landscape.

The burning process is an ancient technique, in which the pine wood pieces go through fire and water several times, allowing the wood to reveal its unique surface or skin, a visual metaphor, which Kilomba uses to explore issues of identity, displacement, water surveillance, and cyclical violence. The boats are now navigating in opposite directions: from South to North, and from East to West, in reference to the boats used to transport millions of enslaved Africans as well as the dramatic migrant routes that cross the Mediterranean today.

In this sculptural installation, the artist shifts from the outside to the inside, from the past to the present and its compulsive repetition. In a state of chaos and disorder, the installation is arranged around the poem. From beneath the waters emerges an imaginary female entity, mantled in fabrics, guardian of the poem. In a gesture of affect and warmth, each engraved verse is hand painted with gold leaf, and translated into five languages: Kimbundu, Yoruba, Creole, Portuguese, English, Arabic, honouring a timeless yet present narrative.

A soundscape immerses the room where human breathing negotiates its own space amidst the noise of wind and waves. The insistent repetition of sounds produced by touching or striking objects becomes a metaphor for the systemic repetition of violence and simultaneously for the prevalence of the human and the poetic.

'18 Verses' was commissioned by Castello di Rivoli Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Turin, Italy.

Produced by the Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden and Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia