Philip Aguirre y otegui

In 2013, sculptor and visual artist Philip Aguirre y Otegui built a natural spring in the slums of Douala, Cameroon's largest city. The object is a functional and aesthetic whole comprising a laundry station, open-air theatre, and gathering place. Realised in cooperation with the community, it has since become the social and symbolic centre of the district. It came about as part of SUD2010 (Salon Urbain de Douala), for which the artist was invited by curator Koyo Kouoh to design a project. Through the work, the social meaning of art in public space within the postcolonial context of urbanisation and water issues in contemporary African cities is examined. With an essay by Martin Schoups.