AA summer school
2024
As part of Unit 4: Carpet, at the Architectural Association School Of Architecture, this project explored the idea of a counter-monument, a structure that challenges dominant historical narratives. The brief involved using scaffolding as a frame and a “carpet” as the storytelling medium. In collaboration with my friend, Dimitris, the project focused on the Benin Bronzes: a series of plaques created in the Kingdom of Benin (present-day Nigeria) from the 1500s onward. These culturally significant artefacts were looted by the British Army in 1897 and distributed across Western institutions, including the British Museum, where their history is often misrepresented.
initial scaffold design
initial scaffold design
initial scaffold design
initial scaffold design
This counter-monument aimed to challenge that narrative and reveal the true story. Using a pull-and-push interaction, the installation required two people to uncover the full narrative, emphasizing the importance of dialogue and shared understanding. A six-meter-long illustrated cloth, tufted to evoke the texture of a carpet, replaced the original four-stripe plan and depicted key themes: the Oba (king), war, colonialism, and palace life.
Mounted on scaffolding and activated through movement, the piece invited public engagement with hidden histories. Accompanying the installation, a booklet compiled archival material and historical documents, offering further context to the Benin Expedition and the looting of the bronzes, restoring a voice to the people of Benin.