Translated Intimacy in Coumba Samba's Abstractions Explores the Distance in Communication
Artist Coumba Samba Blurs Art and Politics in Latest Exhibition
Coumba Samba, a Senegalese-American artist, is making waves in the contemporary art scene with her immersive and thought-provoking installations. Her latest exhibition, titled "Dress Code," is no exception.
Samba's work often explores political and historical themes, and this show is no different. The exhibition, located a 20-minute walk from the UN's New York headquarters, features several poles, green carpeting, phones, and speakers playing UN meetings. Samba obtained the poles from construction companies and painted them with colored bands of irregular sizes, referring to national flags and symbolizing "colonial powers."
The poles, along with other found objects such as wooden pallets and discarded radiators, are painted in specific hues. The work can feel cold and impersonal without sentimental details, but Samba's intention is to confront colonial histories and global politics, blurring the line between art and ritual. She encourages audiences to experience history emotionally and sensorially rather than just intellectually.
Samba's interest in the United Nations General Assembly is evident in her work. In 2024, a livestream of UN summits was part of her show at Empire gallery. The UN's debates and international laws discussions are typically of interest to diplomats and reporters, but Samba brings these discussions into the realm of embodied art experiences.
The show also uses UN summit statements as background noise, creating an immersive environment that envelops visitors in the discourse of global politics. Samba's work challenges traditional formats by bringing political discussions—traditionally confined to diplomatic or institutional settings—into the realm of art.
Samba's art has been exhibited in venues such as Kunstverein in Hamburg and is associated with contemporary dialogues around postcolonial identity and history. Her work has contributed to her rising recognition in Europe and the international contemporary art scene.
In September, Samba will show new work at the Kunsthalle in Basel. One of her upcoming pieces, Stripe Blinds (2023), uses broken Venetian blinds painted in lime green, mustard yellow, and gray, referencing her sister's modeling ensemble. Samba's interest in the loss of meaning in translation stems from her transnational lifestyle, and this piece is no exception, playing with the idea of translation and identity.
Samba's radiators, featured in a 2024 solo show at London's Arcadia Missa, were intended to represent global supply chains, both material and ideological. An accompanying booklet for the show featured an essay by dealer Mischa Lustin addressing the concept of "red gas" and its relation to petroleum exported from Russia.
As Samba continues to push the boundaries of art and politics, her work promises to be a thought-provoking and immersive experience for audiences around the world.
- The poles in Coumba Samba's latest exhibition, "Dress Code," were obtained from construction companies and painted with colored bands, symbolizing "colonial powers," delving into political and historical themes.
- Coumba Samba's work is not only exhibited in traditional art galleries but has also been featured in venues such as Kunstverein in Hamburg, aligning with contemporary dialogues around postcolonial identity and history.
- In her upcoming piece, Stripe Blinds (2023), Samba uses broken Venetian blinds painted in specific hues, a nod to her sister's modeling ensemble, exploring the idea of translation and identity within her transnational lifestyle.
- An accompanying booklet for one of Samba's shows, featuring radiators, addressed the concept of "red gas" and its relation to petroleum exported from Russia, highlighting the intersection of art and the wider context of global politics.
