salu iwadi's water basin totem urges preservation of africa's resources

the water basin totem at the dakar biennale, senegal

Aligned with the theme of the 2024 Dakar Biennale, The Wake, Salu Iwadi Studio presents the Water Basin Totem. As the biennale explores how art can confront ongoing social and environmental crises globally and, more specifically, in Senegal, the radial installation invites reflection on the vital role water plays in shaping Africa’s past, present, and future.

84 recycled plastic basins affixed with repurposed plexiglass are configured in a tubular form, with 12 upcycled steel frames sitting on a 2 meter steel base. A vibrant reflective blue, the work creates a striking juxtaposition from its contextual surroundings with its composition of color, order, and scale, emphasizing the importance of the use of local, recycled materials in the built environment.

all images courtesy of Salu Iwadi Studio

salu iwadi urges protection of africa’s water resources

By welcoming visitors to engage with the Water Basin Totem, Salu Iwadi Studio hopes to instill a sense of responsibility and empowerment, inspiring individuals to take conscious steps to protect Africa’s water resources and foster sustainability. Its surfaces are repurposed from discarded building site materials, strategically positioned to create an immersive experience that challenges perceptions of reality as with reflections that are fragmented, filtered, and duplicated upon entering the volume.

This luminescent nature allows the installation to change character as it is traversed by the sun, granting each visitor a distinct experience dependent on their time of visit. The design studio further adopted a modular construction, ensuring the work can be easily dismantled and transported to another site in the future.

Salu Iwadi Studio presents the Water Basin Totem

Water basins hold significant symbolism in West African households due to their versatility, affordability, and practicality in addressing water-related challenges. They are used for various purposes, including water and goods storage and rainwater harvesting systems, which allow communities to capture and store rainwater for drinking, cooking, hygiene, and irrigation. Notably, their lightweight and portable nature facilitates easy transportation and storage of water, and when properly maintained, they can last generations, contributing to effective plastic waste management. They can also be recycled upon damage, promoting a circular economy, and reducing the environmental impact of plastic waste.

Additionally, Africa is estimated to be the second-largest contributor to plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, accounting for approximately 20% of global plastic waste leakage into the seas. The consumption of single-use plastics presents significant challenges to water bodies, ecosystems, and African communities. Coastal areas and major urban centers in Africa, such as Dakar, where Salu Iwadi’s Water Basin Totem installation is located, are hotspots for plastic pollution, with improper waste disposal and lack of recycling infrastructure being key contributors to this global issue.

unveiled at the 2024 Dakar Biennale in Senegal

the installation invites reflection on the vital role water plays in shaping Africa’s past, present, and future

84 recycled plastic basins affixed with repurposed plexiglass are configured in a tubular form

a reflective blue, the work creates a striking juxtaposition from its contextual surroundings

Salu Iwadi Studio hopes to inspiring visitors to take conscious steps to protect Africa’s water resources

a reflective, immersive experience

its luminescent nature allows the installation to change character as it is traversed by the sun

the materials are locally sources

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project info:

name: Water Basin Totem
designer: Salù Iwadi Studio

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom