A car wrapped in cobalt blue fabric, like a shroud reminiscent of the wrapped bundles of Congolese nkisi (voodoo doll), imbued with spiritual significance and the weight of untold stories. The cobalt blue color symbolizes the mineral cobalt, an essential component of batteries for electric vehicles. Yet this vibrant color also recalls the suffering endured by the Congolese people during the relentless pursuit of this raw material. The car, once a symbol of dreams and aspirations, now hangs suspended in stillness, pointing upwards toward the sky but forever grounded by the weight of its consequences.

A Heaven of My Own challenges viewers to confront the uncomfortable truths lurking beneath the surface of our modern world. It invites reflection on the human and ecological toll of our insatiable hunger for progress and innovation, urging us to reconsider the true cost of our dreams. 

About Clinton Kabena
Clinton Kabena is a visual artist and designer, born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and raised in the Netherlands. His work focuses primarily on the transformative nature of journeys, reflecting particularly on African migration, and the resilience of the individuals who undertake them. He explores the social networks created through these journeys and the profound impact they have on individuals, families, and communities. In his practice, vehicles are a central theme as they transport stories both literally and figuratively. They are the medium that connects the driver, the passenger, and the route, symbolizing the connections between mobility and the human desire for change.

The art programme of Into The Great Wide Open is made possible with the support of the Creative Industries Fund NL and De Versterking.