On the Margins of the Borderlands
1994-95
Mixed-media installation
Collection of the artist
Over the past 15 years António Ole has created several provocative and critically acclaimed installations, of which this is the first. It has been exhibited on three continents and appears here for the first time in North America. The work stems from Ole's desire to draw attention to the history of colonial and local violence and to the architectural decay that surrounds him in Angola. Inside a broken boat that goes nowhere are police reports the artist collected off the street outside an administrative office. He paired the bundles of papers with birds that no longer fly and bricks that are not being used to build. The birds, net and scenic ocean waves playing on the TV sets refer to Angola's coast, his homeland. At once haunting and beautiful, this installation reveals Ole's ability to address difficult subject matter and still create a visually rich experience.
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