Otobong Nkanga: "No Be Today Story O!"

Book excerpt: Filtered memories are a series of drawings based on selected memories of the artist. Nkanga filters and selects moments in her childhood and teenage years that had a certain impact on her life. These memories refer to the loss of innocence, home, security and of loved ones. The titles of the drawings are of important significance that help the reader to place each event in a specific place and time. Experiences and memory are frozen in time, giving a glimpse into the artist's personal experiences, both in her homeland and Europe. Social consequences I, II are a series of drawings, which can be seen in relation to the Filtered memories series; they reveal concepts behind ideas of labour, domesticity, home, belonging and possession. These drawings have a surreal, yet diagrammatic feeling, clearly illustrating cause-and-effect scenarios, using everyday symbolic objects.