Lina Iris Viktor Brings Her Mythic Imaginings To Sir John Soane’s Museum
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Loading... - Anthony Odoi
- 03 Oct 2024
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Lina Iris Viktor, the Liberian-British artist known for her use of rich materials like silk, volcanic rock, ultramarine, and most notably 24K gold, has made waves once again with her latest show at Sir John Soane’s Museum. Viktor’s fascination with gold stems from its timelessness, a symbol of human obsession throughout history, as she explains from her home in Sorrento. This material featured prominently in her contribution to the critically acclaimed "In the Black Fantastic" exhibition at the Hayward Gallery in 2022. The show established her reputation in the London art scene.
One of her most recognized pieces, "Eleventh," was created for a series titled A Haven. A Hell. A Dream Deferred and was showcased at the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2018. This work, which headlined In the Black Fantastic, depicted a Libyan sibyl set against maps used by the American Colonization Society (ACS) in their establishment of Liberia as a colony for freed slaves. Viktor reflects on the lesser-known and complicated history of Liberia, where the ACS, with the backing of President James Monroe, tried to create a new home for freed slaves, only to instill tensions that led to decades of conflict. The impact of these decisions is personal to Viktor, whose parents fled Liberia in 1980 during the civil wars.
Her latest exhibition at Sir John Soane’s Museum, titled Mythic Time / Tens of Thousands of Rememberings, moves away from literal depictions of West Africa’s history and instead embraces abstraction. The museum, a grand collection of European artifacts from the 19th century, inspired Viktor to introduce African traditions into the space. Through Asante-style sculptures, color palettes influenced by African figures, and designs inspired by Dogon architecture, Viktor creates a conversation between the Eurocentric collection and African heritage.
In this new phase of her work, Viktor emphasizes Blackness in a broader sense—exploring how humanity has responded to darkness throughout history. She challenges the way darkness has been sidelined in art and culture, and through her work, she seeks to bring what is often considered "untouchable" to the forefront.
