John Akomfrah: Purple | Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston

Co-commissioned by the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston and making its U.S. premiere at the ICA Watershed, Purple is an immersive six-channel video installation by the acclaimed artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah (b. 1957, Accra, Ghana).
Akomfrah draws from hundreds of hours of archival footage, combining it with newly shot film and a hypnotic sound score to address themes related to the implications of climate change across the planet and its effects on human communities, biodiversity, and the wilderness.
Sited in the post-industrial ICA Watershed building, Purple resonates deeply with Boston Harbor and its current and historical maritime industries. Speaking from the Watershed, Akomfrah discusses the impetus behind the work, its relevance today, the complexity of its soundscape, and bringing the work to life in this reclaimed space.

[@ZuckThat]

I remember being touched by Purple when I saw it many, many years ago. Seeing this interview with John Akomfrah and scenes from the film almost brings me to tears, reminding me of the deep emotion I felt about our environment, planet, and the human population's relationship to our world. I'm not sure why, but this piece really make me feel like I should be doing something different with my life. It is truly that moving and touches something deeply essential about being alive on a complex environmental planet being transformed by industrialization over the last two centuries.

[@Mcnasty78]

Saw this at the Hirschhoren today, Absolutely Moving! What a treasure to stumble onto, everyone was instantly sucked in seconds into the room.

[@sandrabauza3095]

I remember very well visiting this exhibition the last year at uni. It was very very moving and when I looked around in the room, everyone was completely immersed in the narrative. I will say, the majority of the people left the room with tears and I remember me and my colleagues even skipped lunch because we were very emotional. It was the first and the last time (till the date) I really enjoyed a video installation. Well done to the artists for being able to transmit all his emotions and his worries to the audience. Thank you

[@annaweber26]

Ich habe in England, Newcastle die Videoinstallation Precarity gesehen und war absolut begeistert es hat mich so tief berührt wie bis jetzt noch kein andere Film. Der geht mir nicht aus dem Kopf .Ich finde es sehr sehr schade dass es keine Vorführungen in Deutschland gibt!