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Grains of Paradise

Devoted to contemporary African design, the exhibition at R & Company presents in the USA a collection of works that are exotic, precious and unique, with exciting stories to tell.

“Grains of Paradise” – R & Company’s exhibition of contemporary African design conceived in collaboration with the Cape Town gallery Southern Guild – features new and never before seen works from South African designer Porky Hefer, husband and wife design team Dokter and Misses, the
design collective Ardmore, and Senegalese designer Babacar Niang.

The title of the exhibition is inspired by Aframomum melegueta, a West African spice and species of the ginger family, prevalent in African cuisine and commonly known as “grains of paradise”. In West African folk medicine, grains of paradise are valued for their warming and digestive properties. Among the Efik people of Nigeria, they have been used for divination and ordeals determining guilt and are also used in voodoo rites in the Caribbean. Historically, it was imported by caravan through the Saharan Desert and then distributed to Sicily and the rest of Italy, from where it was introduced to the Western world. The Grains of Paradise exhibition alludes to this history, where a collection of works that are exotic, precious and unique, with exciting stories to tell, travels from Africa and is presented in the United States.

African design is currently experiencing a renaissance of interest, with collectors and museums turning their attention there with greater frequency. The designers selected for this exhibition represent a range of styles, backgrounds, narrative and materials. Together, their works offer an overview of this exciting design community.

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York.

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Porky Hefer, nest sculpture in natural three bark and braches

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Porky Hefer, nest sculpture in natural three bark and braches

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Porky Hefer, nest sculpture in natural three bark and braches

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Porky Hefer, nest sculpture in natural three bark and braches

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York.

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Dokter and Misses, Kassena series

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Babacar Niang

“Grains of Paradise”, view of the exhibition at R & Company, New York. Ardmore, Monkey Carrying Leopard Vase Candlestick

until April 30, 2015
Grains of Paradise
in collaboration with Southern Guild
R & Company
82 Franklin Street, New York

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Grains of Paradise

Devoted to contemporary African design, the exhibition at R & Company presents in the USA a collection of works that are exotic, precious and unique, with exciting stories to tell.

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