Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inherit- Matrilineal legacies in CONTEMPORARY

Client: Black Females in Architecture (BFA), a collective supporting Black women in architecture and the built environment

Project Overview:
Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inherit is the first exhibition from Black Females in Architecture (BFA), launched as part of the London Festival of Architecture 2025 and supported by the re:arc institute’s Public Discourse programme. Initially approached for guidance on navigating their curatorial debut, DēpART provided strategic mentorship to ensure this milestone project aligned with BFA’s mission and future ambitions.

While BFA originally considered showcasing their ongoing research initiative The Ma Project, DēpART advised pivoting to a more fully realized concept to ensure curatorial clarity and impact. This collaborative development led to Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inherit—an exhibition exploring matrilineal legacies through sound, sculpture, and architecture, centring memory, care, and generational knowledge as vital forces in shaping spatial practices.

The exhibition ran from 5th–29th June 2025 at NOW Gallery, as part of the LFA Voices series.

DēpART’s Role & Impact:

• Curatorial & Project Planning Support:
  Developed the exhibition concept, advised on project viability, and structured a deliverable and impactful curatorial plan.

• Building a Support Team:
  Identified and brought in key collaborators to complement BFA’s existing network—including artists, researchers, and cultural partners across Africa and the diaspora.

• Press & Fundraising Strategy:
  Led the exhibition’s press campaign and supported ongoing fundraising efforts, securing coverage in leading diaspora-owned publications such as Manju Journal, Africans Columns, Marmalade, and Art Africa Magazine.

• Mentorship & Capacity Building:
  Provided one-on-one mentorship to BFA members, equipping them with the skills and experience to lead future large-scale exhibitions independently.

• Programming & Talent Acquisition:
  Brought in influential cultural leader Lisa Anderson, former Director of the Black Cultural Archives, to facilitate critical public dialogue. Commissioned Liberian filmmaker Cianeh A. Kpukuyou to produce cinematic portraits honouring matrilineal spatial memory. Partnered with Ɛdan Ghana to develop the sound ecology segment of the show.

• Sound & Sonic Collaboration:
  Ɛdan’s contribution, There Was Chorus Before Concrete, included a sonic installation and accompanying essay exploring urban soundscapes and women's spatial knowledge in Accra and Freetown. Ghanaian DJ and producer TMSKDJ created an original composition from Ɛdan’s field recordings, transforming ambient urban audio into an evocative sonic journey of matrilineal care and survival.

• Partnerships & Production Support:
  DēpART secured partnerships with Ɛdan Ghana, BBE Music Store (venue partner), and PPL/PRS (sponsor). Diasporic artists were curated to contribute sculptural, architectural, and design works.

Exhibition Highlights:

• Three architectural interventions by BFA members using materials and techniques inspired by Black matrilineal traditions.

• Sculptural and design objects exploring ancestral technologies and diasporic spatial heritage.

• A sonic installation by Ɛdan Ghana, blending archival and field recordings with an original score by TMSKDJ.

• Cinematic portraits by Cianeh A. Kpukuyou, spotlighting Black women as architects of everyday environments.

Conceptual Framework:
Rooted in the Sankofa principle—retrieving ancestral wisdom to build new futures—Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit challenges conventional architectural narratives by placing listening, memory, and embodied knowledge at the centre of spatial experience. It reconceives architecture not just as a discipline of structures, but as an intimate, matrilineal practice that weaves together memory, resistance, and care.

Outcome:
This landmark exhibition represents a bold step forward for Black women in architecture, challenging the statistic that Black women make up less than 0.5% of licensed architects in the UK, as cited in Architectural Digest. With DēpART’s guidance, Earth, Memory, and the Spaces We Inhabit became both a powerful curatorial debut and a model for decolonial spatial storytelling, opening pathways for future international collaborations.

Future:

DēpART is currently co-developing a Ghanaian iteration of the exhibition with Ɛdan and BFA.