STARTS Prizes

A digital environment is a natural reflection of a physical environment. I think of a Sahelian network of wares on camels as an embodied network of hardware connected to each other through movement. When scaled up, this network is an internet of sorts, with growth through connectivity and the build-up of organic social networks.

We are creating a comprehensive digital tool, the I.AM.ISIGO Digital Mystery System, to bridge the physical-digital divide and preserve and disseminate knowledge of ancient and endangered weaving techniques in Africa. Our project is based on I.AM.ISIGO's extensive research in remote African artisanal communities, aiming to map these significant cultural practices. The tool serves as a digital archive, preserving intricate knowledge systems for future generations, and as an interactive platform for audiences to learn weaving patterns. Our goal is to bring these ancient practices into the present, connecting these archives to the digital network, and blurring lines between science, spirituality, and creative practice.

Our methodology spans urban to rural scopes, leading us away from the source community to manufacturing and export cities, documenting these material cultures in a decolonized manner. We focus on remote communities and cities in Africa such as Nairobi, Kano, Tamale, Dakar, Bolgatanga, Ibadan, Lagos, Agbozume, Kpalimé, Divo, and Cotonou. We'll also explore secondary sites of fiber growing, production, and consumption.

We document previously inaccessible practices surrounding weaving traditions, gain critical understanding of how these materials are processed and used, archive these for future use, make weaving more approachable, bring the knowledge of these techniques to a global audience, unearth ancient systems of governance, challenge the concept of a "finished" good, give a voice to traditional fabrics of Africa, and research the entire supply chain for each of these material knowledge systems.

iamisigo.com/

Creative Direction: Bubu Ogisi
Coding: Uzoma Orji, Uzoma Studios
Art Direction: Tushar Hathiramani
Developer Operations/Management: Kolade Ayo-Vaughan

Bubu Ogisi (NG) is a fiber artist and the Creative Director of the contemporary art brand, I.AM.ISIGO. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and now living between Lagos, Accra, Abidjan, and Nairobi, he studied Fashion at the prestigious École Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (ESMOD) Paris, France. His work primarily focuses on how fiber and textile can keep history alive and also pass on information for the future through preservation of techniques and expression through matter. He creates wearable art pieces using unconventional materials and heritage textile traditions through in-depth research with remote African communities. His work conveys lost historical stories, transforms this found “data” and applies them to fiber production and garments by questioning gender, language, magic/technology, and spirituality.

The I.AM.ISIGO Digital Mystery System is an innovative project designed to bridge the physical-digital divide and safeguard the ancient and endangered weaving techniques of Africa. This comprehensive digital tool, grounded in I.AM.ISIGO's extensive research within remote African artisanal communities, aims to map and preserve these significant cultural practices for future generations. By creating a digital archive, the project aims to preserve intricate knowledge systems as well as to provide an interactive platform for audiences to learn and explore traditional weaving patterns.

The significance of this project lies in its ability to bring ancient weaving practices into the present, seamlessly connecting these archives to the digital network. It serves as a bridge between science, spirituality, and creative practice, highlighting the rich cultural heritage of African weaving techniques. The project spans both urban and rural scopes, documenting material cultures in a decolonized manner across West African cities such as Dakar, Abidjan, Lagos, Accra, Lomé, and Cotonou, as well as secondary sites of fiber growing, production, and consumption. Through meticulous documentation of previously inaccessible weaving practices, the I.AM.ISIGO Digital Mystery System provides a critical understanding of how these materials are processed and used. This digital archive ensures that the knowledge of these techniques is preserved and is made accessible globally. By doing so, it challenges conventional concepts of "finished" goods and gives a voice to the traditional fabrics of Africa.

This project is groundbreaking in its scope and methodology, as it aims to make weaving more approachable and bring this rich cultural knowledge to the forefront of the global stage. By unearthing ancient systems of governance and researching the entire supply chain, the The I.AM.ISIGO Digital Mystery System offers a holistic view of these material knowledge systems. By documenting and digitizing these ancient weaving techniques, the I.AM.ISIGO Digital Mystery System serves as a beacon of cultural preservation and innovation. It embodies a unique blend of technology and tradition, ensuring that the rich tapestry of African weaving practices continues to flourish.