On view at the Arsenal from February to July 2019, the exhibition showcased the work of Kapwani Kiwanga, recipient of the Sobey Arts Award, and her pink-blue installation from the Giverny Capital Collection.  

Kiwanga’s artistic practice is rooted in her anthropology and comparative religion academic background. Adhering to a rigorous method, the artist makes her works an extension of her scholarly research, exploring power relations through the symbolism of certain objects or materials. Through her installations, the artist recreates the dynamics of oppression and control present in our society, inviting viewers to experience them directly in order to reveal and question them.   

pink-blue  represents the culmination of the artist's extensive research into the supposedly scientifically proven effects of architecture and color on human behavior. By inviting visitors to experience an environment reminiscent of the long straight corridors in hospitals and prisons, Kiwanga questions both the benefits and the limits of the social use of color. The chosen shade of pink, for example, is said to reduce aggression and prevent conflict. It was used in the 70s in many prisons with the intent of calming inmates. However, after some time, the authorities noticed an increase in violent acts by prisoners. Blue light, meanwhile, has been used around the world for some years now, in toilets of inner-city establishments, to lower the visibility of veins and thus reduce the use of intravenous drugs. Once again, the experiment proved negative, as poor visibility increased the risk of unsafe injections. 

The foundation thanks Gabriel Morest for his technical contribution regarding the construction of the work.   

Find out more about this installation at the Arsenal.