The Well Laid Table
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As one who at the end of 2020 (thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic) transitioned to remote work, my relationship with space, work and colleagues metamorphosed… More like I was introduced to a world awaiting exploration. A radical and controversial shift, and an unfamiliar departure from the traditional culture of working; particularly in Nigeria. A new way to (co)produce. A new way to communicate. A new way to move without moving amidst many other “news”.
Who invited me? Who else was invited? Is the table laid well to accommodate all guests? And, what does the “table” mean to me? These questions flood my mind as I ponder upon what to write at my desk.
The Host: An invitation to seat at the table
The Guests: Who else it at the table?
The certainty of a composition of many different people, locations, identities, beliefs and schoolings sparked my interest in seating at this table. Exciting yet unpredictable, my imagination peaked high and overshadowed the potential complexities.
Due to the global paradigm shift towards human existence, distance and time is now collapsed; welcoming a multiplicity of ideas and reordering for the spatial practitioner. As Maya Lin once said, "Nothing is ever guaranteed…” Thus, my orientation is that nothing is permanent and one must constantly be prepared for the “new”.
The different centres of production
The table:
Now, when I think about a well-laid table, I think about a “production chamber”. That is, a definite site where elements are mixed and matched rhythmically. In this sense, it is my bed, dining chair, dining table, sofa and/or sewing table. In a world with things in flux, I am very interested in exploring such productive experimentation, freedom and freshness besides responding to the tides of design or architecture (translating ideas, making objects and acquiring knowledge). I firmly believe this is what the well-laid table at the AFI offers!
The well-laid Table:
Though with its peculiarities and nuances, this unique way of working for the African Futures Institute (AFI) was cutting-edge. Over two years, the AFI Research Team, comprising eight young architects, artists, and graduates who also write, teach, and curate, worked within spatial practice and architectural disciplines. This collaboration resulted in the creation of the Well-Laid Zine (refer to the document on the right). Each team member had the chance to reflect on their journey, despite being assigned specific topics. These topics ranged from ideas on collaboration to mapping. I contributed by writing ‘On Measurement’ (pgs 12-20).
2023_04_23_AFI_TWLT_CA_BROCHURE.pdfPage updated
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