Klik hier voor Nederlands
How faithful is memory? Anthony Ngoya (1995) sees memory as a construction composed of overlapping narratives, events and emotions. The search for traces of time and the ways in which they are anchored in personal and collective memory runs as a common thread through his work. According to Ngoya, truth is a malleable concept: ‘Each time you retell a story, you highlight different aspects and you recapture a moment from the past in the present.’
In his nostalgic installations, Ngoya allows past and present to merge. Material plays a meaningful role in this process. The loosely hanging fabrics, for instance, emphasize the fluidity of memory. Sometimes they are found materials, already bearing a history, to which he adds another layer. Also in the videos – featuring footage from personal and public archives – multiple layers often overlap.
This layering is also present at Prospects. Mbótó (2025), for example, is a woven textile in which the act of weaving functions as a metaphor for the interconnection of different narratives. The lanterns placed alongside the work present film compilations of ritual acts, the consequences of oil exploitation in rural areas, and images of the water-rich region surrounding the Congolese fishing village where Ngoya’s father was born. These lanterns illuminate the present with stories and emotions from the past, revealing a sense of longing and connection.
Written by Esther Darley