REVIEWS & ACCOLADES

The Guardian - "Purple eschews a linear narrative for an almost overwhelming montage of imagery and sound"
The Telegraph - "compelling clarity, sparking off chains of association that are grimly disturbing while offering a reminder of all the beauty that we stand to lose"
Time Out - "lays bare all of humanity’s fears about the impending doom of our planet"

EXHIBITION HISTORY

Barbican Curve London 6 Oct 2017 to 7 Jan 2018
Bildmuseet Sweden 13 Apr to 16 Sep 2018

Award-winning British artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah explores climate change, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events in his most ambitious project to date. Thought-provoking and powerful, the immersive six-channel video intersperses archival footage with newly shot film, animated by a hypnotic score.

Purple draws upon Akomfrah’s travels in the French Polynesia with TBA21–Academy, which promotes advocacy for ocean conservation through cross-disciplinary programs and artistic production. The exhibition is curated by TBA21–Academy.

Organized in honor of the museum’s 25thanniversary, the installation marks the first collaboration between the National Museum with Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21), the contemporary art foundation established by Francesca von Habsburg, daughter of Baron Hans Heinrich Thyssen Bornemisza.

The exhibition has been commissioned by the Barbican, London, and co-commissioned by Bildmuseet Umeå, Sweden, TBA21—Academy, The Institute of Contemporary Art/ Boston, Museu Coleção Berardo, Lisbon, and Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid.