Ibrahim Mahama has unveiled Voyageur, a new public commission in Naples named after Malian musician Ali Farka Touré’s celebrated album. Commissioned by the City of Naples and curated by Vincenzo Trione, the work is currently installed in a public square in the city, where it will remain until November 18 before travelling to Ghana for presentation across multiple public spaces. Supported by BAM Arte and the Mayor of Naples, Gaetano Manfredi, the project brings Mahama’s practice into a wider conversation around migration, history, and the Mediterranean.
At the center of Voyageur is the image of boats, transformed into a powerful crucifix like form that speaks to movement, displacement, faith, and contemporary realities. Through its public setting, Mahama invites audiences to reflect on the ongoing crisis in the Mediterranean while considering the historical connections between Africa and Europe. The work uses familiar imagery to open a space for collective reflection on the human stories behind migration.
Presented courtesy of White Cube and Apalazzo Gallery, with photography by Chiara Nicoletti, Voyageur will continue its journey beyond Naples when it travels to Ghana. Its presentation across Ghanaian public spaces will extend the conversation into another cultural and historical context, connecting the Mediterranean experience with broader African narratives and Mahama’s ongoing exploration of history, movement, and memory.
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