""My aim was to honor Koyo Kouoh, not just in an image but also in the spirit of the project, which adheres to the South African concept of Ubuntu that Koyo professed dearly. Ubuntu translates as 'I am here because we are.'""
""The work is titled Heavy is the head that wears the crown (2026), an expression originally derived from William Shakespeare's play Henry IV, that serves as an acknowledgement of the pressure, stress, and anxiety inherent in positions of major responsibility.""
""Adams represents this facet by turning her crown into the word 'JOY,' which emits beams of golden light.""
""The painting's surface is fractured by geometries that adopt a palette of browns and golds with flashes of pinks. With its flatness and up-close subject, Kouoh appears almost like a Byzantine icon.""
Derrick Adams installed a monumental portrait of Koyo Kouoh in Venice, honoring her contributions as the first African woman to curate the Biennale. The installation, led by Francesco Bonami, aims to be accessible and inclusive, reflecting the South African concept of Ubuntu. Titled 'Heavy is the head that wears the crown (2026)', the artwork symbolizes the pressures of leadership while celebrating joyful possibilities. Adams' painting features a fractured surface with a palette of browns, golds, and pinks, portraying Kouoh in a style reminiscent of Byzantine icons.
Read at Artnet News
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