It is a an ongoing participatory project in the public realm initiated by Lavínia Diniz Freitas & Maix Mayer in partnership with Valérie Bussmann.
Through cultural practices of language, garment, music, and digital intervention, JAMBO VENICE: A NEW KIND OF PAVILION? aims to foster a dynamic tapestry of communication that transcends linguistic and social boundaries. It seeks to connect people across borders, blurring traditional territorial constraints to explore transnational collaborations and redefine the concept of representation. By acknowledging the narratives woven by grassroots cultural agents, the project bridges continents to promote an inclusive, participatory, and diverse dialogue.
The project consists of three components: talking clothes, social sculpture, and waterproof sounds, happening in the public spaces of Venice and Zanzibar, as well as digitally during the Venice Biennale.
talking clothes
the pindo (border pattern), the miji (central image), and a jina (proverb or message). Whether worn, purchased, or gifted, the proverb or message on the Kanga conveys direct and indirect messages among people.
The project presents Kangas from two collections in Stone Town and a Tinga-Tinga street artist. Each collaborator has been invited to respond to the project‘s theme with a Kanga based on their interpretation of what transnational means to them.
The Historical Kangas are from Mariam Hamdani and Farouque Abdela Hamdani.
Abdela's fashion design practice offers rare insight into the diverse people and cultures of the region through the history of Zanzibari clothing. A selection of Kangas from his collection is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Othman Hassan Said, locally known as Mani, painted a Kanga in the Tinga-Tinga style inspired by the chosen theme.
You can participate and support the project!
social sculpture
„What defines contemporary to you?“
Each passer-by is invited to respond „national or transnational“.
Try it yourself!
waterproof sounds
Hear and see us!
Boom Party Performances during the Live-Stream in the Lagune.
TBA
Live-Stream from Zanzibar
non-profit art buying
Buy an artwork and support future productions of the project on-site.
Each Kanga artwork contains the artwork twice.
The proverb consists of a Swahili saying and the Italian equivalent.
Italian:
Preghiere intercessorie.
English:
Intercessory prayers.
Swahili:
Huduma za maombezi.
Italian:
Grazie per la vettura stimata del nostro onorevole.
English:
Thank you for the esteemed car of our honourable person.
Swahili:
Ahsante gari ya muhishimiwa wetu.
Italian:
Non apprezzerai ciò che hai finché non sarà andato.
English:
You won‘t appreciate what you have until it‘s gone.
Swahili:
Utakodelea macho hutokijua nilichonacho.
Italian:
Mi cercherai in ogni luogo, non ti dirò.
English:
You‘ll look for me in every place, I won‘t tell you.
Swahili:
Utanitafuta kila njina nililonalo sitok wambiya.
Italian:
Partita persa.
English:
Game lost.
Swahili:
Mchezo hasara.
Italian:
La pazienza porta benedizioni.
English:
Patience brings blessings.
Swahili:
Subria huvuta kheri.
Italian:
La verità fa male.
English:
Hate me, but I won't stop telling you the truth.
Swahili:
Hata ukinichukia la kweli nitakwambia.
Italian:
L‘amore è cieco.
English:
Love is blind.
Swahili:
Mapenzi hayana macho ya kuona.
Italian:
Dare senza aspettarsi nulla in cambio.
English:
Let’s be generous to strangers.
Swahili:
Tumkirimu mgeni.
Italian:
I genitori sono il tesoro più prezioso.
English:
Mother and father are gold.
Swahili:
Mama na baba ni dhahabu.
Italian:
Chi parla dietro le spalle parla al muro.
English:
You will end up talking behind my back, you cannot confront me.
Swahili:
Utaisha kuniteta kunitamkia huwezi.
Italian:
Andar co‘ camoma.
English:
Slowly, slowly.
–or– Take it easy.
Swahili:
Pole pole.
The presentation in the public realm is characterized by a fusion of popular and high cultural elements and discourses, bringing together multi-site installations, interventions and participation that navigate the between the „locals“ and the „transnational.“