Sokari Douglas Camp and Siraj Izhar are the joint winners of the competition to design a Living Memorial for Ken Saro-Wiwa. The winners were announced at a commemoration ceremony attended by Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka and Saro-Wiwa’s son, Ken Wiwa, as the culmination of Africa 05. In an unexpected decision, both proposals will be developed simultaneously.
Sculptor Sokari Douglas Camp will make a stainless steel sculpture of a Nigerian bus, decorated with texts from Ken Saro-Wiwa?s writings.
Multimedia artist Siraj Izhar will suspend helium-filled representations of a c60 carbon molecule above various locations in London, paralleled by a Living Memorial website.
“This is an ambitious project. The decision to choose two artists reflects the complexities inherent in the legacy of Ken Saro-Wiwa as both an artist and a political campaigner. Both proposals encompass the spirit of the work of Saro-Wiwa and the continued struggle in the Niger Delta. These projects will inspire and involve Londoners in addressing environmental and human rights issues which affect us all.” Comments Anita Roddick, on behalf of the judging panel.
The winners were announced on 10 November, the 10th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight fellow campaigners, who were ?judicially murdered? by the Nigerian government for their stance against the despoilation of the Niger Delta by foreign oil companies. The situation in the delta has steadily worsened since their deaths: a situation that Saro-Wiwa himself called genocidal.
The Living Memorial in London remembers Ken and all those who have died in similar circumstances, in recognition of London?s dependency on oil, and the fact that Shell ? the major player in the Niger delta ? is part-based here. In the context of the G8 Summit, Make Poverty History, Africa 05 ? the UK-wide festival of arts and culture, and London?s Mayor?s Commission on African and Asian Heritage, this memorial is timely, and is backed by a weighty coalition. The project was launched at London?s City Hall by Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, Anita Roddick and Ken Wiwa in March this year.
The Judging Panel comprised of Remember Saro-Wiwa Curator David A Bailey; Africa 05 Director Gus Casely-Hayford; Michaela Crimmin, Head of Arts, RSA; artist Alfredo Jaar; activist and philanthropist Anita Roddick; artist Yinka Shonibare and writer and activist Ken Wiwa.
