Kundug Pembe Chair, 2023
JOMO TARIKU
Kundug Pembe Chair, 2023
Bronze with velvet
35 x 24 x 30 in
The Kundung Pembe Chair marks Tariku's first venture into bronze casting, an exploration of what can be created from metal, and a departure from his previous focus on wood and occasional use of plastic. Bronze, one of the oldest materials used across Africa, has a rich history, seen in artifacts like the Bronze Head of Ife from Nigeria, Coptic crosses, and MeQumya (prayer staffs) from Ethiopia. Similar to bronze’s adaptability in creating a wide range of objects, the repurposing of “cattle horn” from slaughtered animals plays an essential role in producing various items, such as drinking vessels, beads, combs, utensils, home decorations, weapons, and musical instruments like the Kundung xylophones from Ni xylophones from Nigeria, which Tariku first encountered in the documentary Voices Rising: The Music of Wakanda Forever.
Unlike the Nyala Chair, which was inspired by the curvaceous silhouette of the wild animal's horns, the Kundung Pembe Chairsynthesizes a variety of shapes derived from “cattle horn.” The design draws from a broad range of African influences, with the name itself representing a fusion of two words from different regions of the continent: Kundung, from Nigeria, and Pembe, the Swahili word for horn, used in Eastern Africa.
“I aim to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for elevated modern African design, and to inspire a deeper and fuller connection to the continent. I weave the continent’s nature, art, and history within each piece I produce. Every design tells a unique story, with no detail overlooked or undervalued.” —Jomo Tariku
