The ongoing Kochi-Muziris Biennale presents a profound sensory experience, courtesy of acclaimed South African artist Dineo Seshee Bopape. Her installation, titled 'Mme Mmu, Bhumi Bhumi', transforms a section of the Island Warehouse into a contemplative sanctuary. This powerful work stands in serene contrast to the energetic pulse of Kochi, offering visitors a unique space where earth, audio, and personal history converge.
A Cross-Cultural Homage to Mother Earth
The installation's title itself initiates a meaningful dialogue between cultures and continents. It blends 'Mme Mmu' from Bopape's native Sepedi language with the Sanskrit word 'Bhumi'. Both terms poetically translate to 'Mother Earth' or 'Earth Goddess', immediately anchoring the artwork's central theme. Bopape investigates the deep, enduring, and often sacred connection between human beings and the soil that sustains them, a relationship that transcends geographical boundaries.
Sacred Mounds and Organic Architecture
At the physical heart of the experience are nine rounded mounds, meticulously sculpted from kneaded earth. Their forms are evocative, simultaneously calling to mind ancient temple structures and the towering termite mounds found across African landscapes. Visitors are encouraged to take mats inside these earthy structures and sit in silence, allowing the space to become one for rest, dreaming, and ancestral connection.
This reference is deeply intentional. In many African traditions, termite mounds (known as Seolo) are considered sacred sites, intimately linked with fertility and the presence of ancestors. Bopape draws directly from this rich symbolism. The mounds are crafted using a completely organic and traditional process, combining:
- Clay and local soil
- Cow dung
- Dried grass
This mixture is pressed into specially designed frames, creating a living, tactile material. The presence of blades of grass sprouting from the surfaces is not an accident; it is a potent symbol of resilience, quiet hope, and the relentless cycle of renewal and regeneration.
The Layered Soundscape of Memory and History
Sound is not merely an accompaniment but a crucial layer of the installation. An ambient audio composition fills the warehouse space, weaving together a tapestry of noises that span the personal and the collective. The soundscape includes:
- The rhythmic sweeping of floors
- Melodic birdsong
- Fragments of love songs and protest music
- The everyday rhythms of life
Through this sophisticated sensory layering, Bopape addresses complex and often painful themes of displacement, slavery, and fractured geographies. Yet, the work is not solely about loss. By grounding the visitor in the physicality of earth and the familiarity of sound, the installation also offers a pathway toward healing, reconnection, and a profound sense of grounding. It is a quiet yet monumental invitation to reflect on where we come from and the ground we all share.
