Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
British-Trinidadian artist Zak Ové is displaying his sculpture "Black Liner", a contemporary piece that delves into the heritage of the African diaspora while taking on the lens of Afrofuturism, at the Louvre, Abu Dhabi. It marks the opening of the exhibition "Kings and Queens of Africa: Forms and Figures of Power".
"Black Starliner is driven by at shape our understanding of modernity," Ové said in an exclusive conversation with Aletihad.
"Growing up," he added: "education, history, and culture often placed Western modernity as the future, relegating African ancestry to the past, as something primitive or obsolete. The absence of Black and Brown figures in imagined futures – whether in science fiction, positions of power, or cultural representations – left little room for those of dual heritage to envision themselves in these narratives."
Ové examines how the 13-metre-long sculpture engages history, mythology, as well as Afrofuturism to establish an identity with resilience. "Black Starliner embodies this legacy of resilience and agency. It stands as both a declaration of victory and a reclamation of the future, reflecting the visionary ideals of [Jamaican activist] Marcus Garvey. The intricate surface details incorporate Adinkra symbols from Ghana and Veve symbols from the Caribbean, forging connections across time and geography. "Veve symbols, often drawn in sand, were acts of quiet resistance when enslaved people were denied literacy and cultural preservation. By juxtaposing these symbols, Black Starliner reactivates diasporic histories, honouring those who found ways to safeguard their heritage despite systemic erasure," he said.
Ové highlighted the installation's focus on multiculturalism, encouraging reflection on the complexity of human history and the importance of cultural connections. "Black Starliner engages international audiences, celebrating cultural hybridity and the value of preserving heritage. As its images circulate, its meaning expands, emphasising art's fluid, interconnected nature.
"It embodies the diasporic experience, using Adinkra and Veve symbols to connect West African and Caribbean heritage, reminding us that culture is ever-evolving and interconnected," he said.
Black Starliner also engages with Jean Nouvel's architecture, balancing tradition and contemporary in sculpture. On Afrofuturism, Ové added: "Afrofuturism in my work is more of a reference point than a foundational principle. As a young mind, I was deeply influenced by the Afrofuturist movement in Black music during the '70s and '80s, from Sun Ra's cosmic jazz to George Clinton's P-Funk and the electronic experimentation of Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. These artists used music to merge African heritage with futuristic visions, transcending the limits of history and creating new realities."
Black Starliner blends past and future, using masks to symbolise resistance and evolution. When asked to identify his brand to those unfamiliar with his purpose behind artwork such as the latest on display on Saadiyat Island, Ové said: "Black Starliner is about the journey of Black identity through time and space. The piece speaks to transformation and reclamation – of space and narratives – and sparking fresh conversations about where we go from here.
"By reinterpreting African symbols and mythology within a futuristic framework, the piece invites viewers to reconsider how Black culture has often been marginalised and to reframe it as central to both past and future."
Indeed, Black Starliner is a powerful meditation on cultural memory that aligns African symbols and masks to think about how the past shapes the present and dictates the future, with a particular focus on the importance of Black stories in the past and future contexts.
The display of the sculpture in the city attests to the multiplicity of opinions and the museum's belief in the importance of engagement through art. Ove agrees. "To have my work in a space [Louvre Abu Dhabi] that bridges diverse cultural histories enhances the message I aim to share about the importance of Black narratives in contemporary art."
The Kings and Queens of Africa exhibition will continue to be on display until June 8, 2025.
