Solo exhibition Ima-Abasi Okon

Ima-Abasi Okon presents a collection of old and new work in as many as 10 rooms of the historic section of the building. The exhibition raises questions about how ideas of improvement, used to justify the appropriation of land in settler colonialism, are still seen in today’s focus on optimising the body.

Okon draws on elements from road running in this exhibition. For instance, rubber mats typically used in races are incorporated into the installation. Conventionally placed at the start and finish lines to register an individual’s run time, these mats have been repurposed in the Van Abbemuseum to function differently. Here, the start and finish mats are positioned close together, alternately activating and deactivating a timer as visitors move through the galleries. Importantly, the time recorded is no longer tied to individual performance but is instead measured collectively. As more visitors enter the exhibition, the clock resets more frequently. This continuously interrupted, shared time is displayed live on a digital clock, where it becomes clear that time is not allowed to accumulate. With the active participation of its audience, Okon’s circuit slows down a system typically associated with speed, proficiency, and competition. Instead, the focus shifts to collective movement and alternative forms of validation, challenging conventional systems of power and approval.