Dozie Kanu has teamed up with Byredo to create an installation that brings the brand’s Bal d’Afrique fragrance to life. On show during Milan Design Week at Spazio Maiocchi, the installation pairs a gallery of archival photography alongside a large-scale architectural structure.
Visitors enter the space via a corridor. Here, a glass vitrine displays photographs from the Saman Archive – a project initiated by Adjoa Armah, which collects images taken in Ghana across different decades. For Kanu, representing the past through his work is crucial, in terms of creating a connection. As such, by showing the audience these images before inviting them into the installation itself, he looks to convey a sense of shared perspective.
“It feels more authentic for me to try and see the continent through the eyes of others, acknowledging and empowering the lives of people who were and are there,” he says.
Heading into the main space, Kanu has devised a “structural manifestation” of the spiritual moments found across the images – which transport audiences from beaches, to homes, and to traditional festivals. The pavilion itself appears as a heavy metal curtain, with hidden details, such as artworks and furniture pieces, contained inside.
“This shouldn’t just be a fleeting sort of energy, this is like a lifelong energy,” Kanu says. “This isn’t something you can taste for a moment and forget. My goal is always to bring forward a feeling that has the ability to stay with you over an extended period.”
The Bal d’Afrique installation is on show as part of Spazio Maiocchi’s Milan Design Week programming. It remains in situ until April 23, when the city-wide festival comes to a close. Elsewhere, Vero has launched its latest collection – bringing with it an “explosion of color and creativity”.
