Archive · 12 Dec 2025
Ibrahim Mahama reimagines jute sacks at Kochi-Muziris Biennale
A famous artist from Ghana named Ibrahim Mahama visited Kochi, India, for an art festival called the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
He used old jute sacks and wooden chairs to create a special art display.
The jute sacks he found in Kochi were different from those in Ghana because they still had marks and smells from where they came from.
He worked with local women and art students to fix and use these materials.
His art tells a story about the hard work and trade history behind everyday objects.
The display is now in a big warehouse in Kochi, where people can see and learn about this story.
Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama used jute sacks and second-hand wooden chairs for his installation at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
The jute sacks in Kochi had unique markings and scents, different from those imported to Ghana.
Local women and art students from Kerala helped mend the sacks and repair the chairs.
The installation explores the history of commodities and the labour associated with them.
The artwork is displayed at the Anand Warehouse, showcasing the intersection of art and the commodification of labour.
- Who
- Ghanaian artist Ibrahim Mahama
- What
- Reimagined jute sacks and second-hand wooden chairs as an art installation
- When
- During the Kochi-Muziris Biennale
- Where
- At the Anand Warehouse in Kochi, India
- Why
- To explore the history of commodities and the labour attached to them
- Artist
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Location
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Anand Warehouse
- Material Used
- Jute sacks and second-hand wooden chairs
- Collaborators
- Local women and art students from Kerala
- Theme
- Labour and trade