Meschac Gaba: Tresses

Meschac Gaba has created a new hair sculpture of Rivington Place, the newly built home of inIVA and Autograph ABP, designed by awardwinning architect David Adjaye.  The work is one of the latest editions to his series Tresses which connects innovative contemporary architecture to the West African tradition and styles of hair braiding.  Gaba’s interpretation places Rivington Place in the context of landmark architectural achievements across the world.

Tresses is being shown for the first time in the UK on 25 October, when models will parade in and around Spitalfields Market in East London wearing these magnificent hair sculptures as wigs. This must see live performance leads to The Hair Do, a free party at Cargo, Rivington Street with all sorts of hair related entertainment for all ages – from open mic sessions to hair-braiding lessons.

This event is part of a series of artist’s commissions by two arts organisations inIVA and Autograph ABP in the lead up to the opening of their new building Rivington Place in 2007. The star of the show will be Gaba’s hair sculpture of this important new arts venue. Rivington Place will be featured alongside London landmarks the “Gherkin” and GLA building and other historic sites in New York, Paris and Benin.