Ayo

Neither Rhythm Nor Repetition 

In response to the painful history of colonial trade and cultural appropriation, of which the sample books of the Leidsche Katoenmaatschappij bear witness, Ayo developed the installation ‘Neither Rhythm Nor Repetition’, commissioned by the TextielMuseum. The work consists of woven textiles, glass cowrie shells, and a sound collage. She had a monumental wall hanging woven, measuring 3.5 by over 4 metres, along with three-dimensional floor pieces. 

On the wall hanging, with a subtle colour gradient from beige to soft orange, large cowrie shells form the central motif, woven with glossy viscose yarn in short floats. Cowrie shells were used as currency in Africa and represent an economic mode of operation; the colour gradient abstractly refers to a sunset, a symbol of mourning rituals and new beginnings. The floor pieces trace the contours of Fort Jesus in Mombasa, an important hub in the colonial trade network. The floor textiles were created using an experimental multilayer weave of polyester monofilament, linen, and copper wire. By manually pulling on woven transparent polyester threads afterwards, the fabric lifts to form a three-dimensional surface. 

‘Neither Rhythm Nor Repetition’ connects a critical reflection on what was lost in colonial trade practices with a subtle homage to the indigenous makers, who were literally “kept out of the books.” 

Read more

Photography by Patty van den Elshout commissioned by TextielMuseum

The collection assignments are made possible with financial support from the Mondriaan Fund.