Looking for something both fun and informative to do this Sunday without leaving your home?

Design Indaba in partnership with Google Arts & Culture has launched an online project called ‘Colours of Africa’, which showcases 60 artworks produced by over 60 artists.

Each artist was invited to contribute a work that captures the ‘colour’ and character of their home country.

Selected by Design Indaba’s founder Ravi Naidoo, the works showcase the best of African craft, product, industrial design, fashion, film, animation, graphics, food, music, jewellery and architecture. “Africa is known for its bold, unapologetic use of colour. Each country, city and community is identifiable by its unique palette. As Africans, we can tell powerful stories through colour,” says Naidoo.

The project will allow viewers to discover stories of Africa as told by the African creative community.

Visit the site

The exhibition is interactive, inviting viewers to play games, do virtual pottery and explore at their leisure – offering a meaningful yet fun way to spend a few hours this weekend. It features a kaleidoscopic navigation tool that can be used to explore the art in a randomised way, giving the visitor a unique experience, while allowing the art itself to shine.

“Google has always been acutely aware and in full support of the immense creative melting pot that exists on the continent. Collaborating with Design Indaba on this project allows us to bring this support to fruition,” says Nitin Gajria, managing director at Google.

The artists’ creations have been converted into images, videos, texts and illustrations. The multidisciplinary mix of artists includes Algerian photographer Ramzy Bensaadi, fashion designer Bisrat Negassi from Eritrea, filmmaker Archange Kiyindou ‘Yamakasi’ from the Republic of Congo and visual artist Ngadi Smart from Sierra Leone.

To bring the project to life, Design Indaba collaborated with former Design Indaba conference speaker Noel Pretorius and his creative partner, Elin Sjöberg, who collaborated with Google Arts & Culture Lab to create the design concept and interface for the digital exhibition.

“We look forward to giving viewers a ticket to experiencing a whole new world, one that is outside of their everyday surroundings and creative knowledge. This project answers the vital call for all to notice and embrace African art in all its wonder,” says Gajria.

As part of the project launch, Design Indaba commissioned South African multidisciplinary artist and activist Lebo Mashile to compose an original piece of poetry that celebrates the ‘Colours of Africa’.

Colours of Africa 

Eyes flutter in slumbering darkness
The sky, a skin of midnight hues

Dawn shakes the dreamscape of white wonder
As the sun and a continent come into view
A curtain of light is pulled back
On the glow where sand caresses sea
Rich rust
Golden dust
Love red regalia
Awakened orange energy

Yellow sparks of illuminated millions
Contrast the lush sustenance of green
Digital diversity dipped in black
Bold as cobalt
Ochre as ancestry
Polyrhythmic purple passion
Spirit of violet swirling in citrus seasons
Elegant as obsidian
Resilient as everlasting moss

Retreat into reflective perception
On mango trees, Niamy earth
The ocean in my palm, agu
Nourished by contradictions
The gilded dream of colours
that never leave me alone
Joyeuse Jaune de la memoire [joyous yellow of memory] Botala Ba mme [blue of my mother] La flamme noire [the black flame] Heart of bread and rivers
Songs and stories of my bone
Amazing blue brown shelter
Where my hues blend into you, is home

To view Colours of Africa, visit: https://goo.gle/coloursofafrica on Google Arts & Culture.