Layers of Place: MIT — The Fovnders Pillars

The Fovnders Pillars by Meghna Singh, Simon Wood, Lesiba Mabitsela

 

The Fovnders Pillars’ is an AR memorial that transforms the six neoclassical pillars of MIT’s iconic Building 10 into dynamic, living canvases, adorned with vibrant traditional African patterns. Each pillar represents one of the six African regions most impacted by the transatlantic slave trade: Mozambique, Angola, Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Senegal. Collaborating with contemporary fabric designers and MIT students from these countries, we will create distinct designs for each pillar.

During the AR experience, the audience will witness animated patterns from each fabric interact and merge to give birth to new designs, reflecting the strength of Pan African unity. This experience will be accompanied by a soundscape, shifting from individually composed sounds for each pillar and region to a blended composition that evolves alongside the new design created.

This installation stands as a powerful memorial to the six enslaved individuals once owned by MIT founder William Barton Rogers and pays tribute to the ancestral roots of the African American community from six different African regions. The project reclaims the space in remembrance and celebration of those lives, juxtaposing classical architecture with African artistry to confront the historical injustices intertwined with the institute’s legacy.

 

FUNDERS

 

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