Burkina Faso Drawn Together

As one of the many project developed by Francis Kéré for the 23rd International Exhibition, the work consists of a long wall that, during the day of the International Exhibition, will be adorned with a participative mural. Visitors are invited to co-create the piece, hence the title, by painting symbols based on the symbolism of West African vernacular architecture. Much more than mere decorations, these patterns express the values and beliefs of the village, which was first settled in the 15th century and serves as the royal court of the Kassena people. The symbols showcase traditional fabric patterns, speak of musical traditions and familial bloodlines, and most importantly signify animals and their place in this world. The symbols derive from a worldview that sees all sentient creatures – whether human or non-human – as equals that need to share natural resources in harmony. Just like the other interventions designed and developed by Francis Kéré at the 23rd International Exhibition, this project tackles Eurocentric conversations about the present and future, inviting people to discover knowledge too often overlooked that should be taken into the “Unknown Unknowns” that is ahead.