My workshop by Lakwena Maciver
Lakwena Maciver and her current exhibition, I'M YOUR HANDS, at our Parisian space, are featured in a prominent full-page article in the March 2025 issue of Vanity Fair. In the interview with journalist Valentine Ulgu, Maciver discusses her sources of inspiration and the origins of the exhibition's title.
"My workshop is located in London, on Ridley Road. In the studio, I set aside the outside world to refocus and let my creativity flow. To organize my ideas, I tend to sit on a large colorful rug that I created for an installation for Christie's. I often start with short phrases that I then embed into my works. Words and colors are the most powerful vectors of emotion there are. I make sure that everyone can interpret and feel them in their own way.
The title of the exhibition comes from a conversation with my husband, who is a hairstylist. I wanted to highlight his daily gestures, the deeper meaning of his profession, and the culture of the African diaspora. I wanted to celebrate masculinity in its entirety: from the acceptance of vulnerability to more traditional aspects, like the feeling of security. For this, I took on the challenge of presenting both artworks and immersive spaces in the same exhibition."
Excerpted words from Vanity Fair.