Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama has transformed the lakeside terrace of London's Barbican Centre with a monumental textile installation titled "Purple Hibiscus" (2023-24). The work, measuring 6,560 square feet, is made from handcrafted pink and purple fabric adorned with approximately 130 traditional ceremonial robes called batakaris, sourced from communities in Tamale, Ghana. Mahama collaborated with a network of local women weavers and employed around 1,000 workers to produce the piece over seven months, using Tamale's Alui Mahama sports stadium as a workspace. The installation is part of the Barbican's exhibition "Unravel: The Power and Politics of Textiles in Art."
This installation matters because it brings attention to the political and cultural power of textiles, highlighting themes of intergenerational knowledge, communal memory, and global trade systems. Mahama's work offers a subtle yet powerful commentary on fabric's role in history, from Chinese threads to London's rag trade, while also navigating the Barbican's recent censorship controversy. The piece's scale and collaborative production process challenge traditional studio-based artmaking, and its planned return to Ghana as a public artwork underscores Mahama's commitment to making art accessible beyond elite gallery spaces.