Manifesta purposely strives to keep its distance from what are often seen as the dominant centres of artistic production, instead seeking fresh and fertile terrain for the mapping of a new cultural topography.
Coumba Samba, US
Steps, 2026 © Coumba Samba. Photo © Manifesta 16 Ruhr / Ivan Erofeev.
Coumba Samba's multimedia and performative work looks at how institutional structures shape identities and challenges dominant cultural narratives. Her work addresses themes such as consumer culture, social dynamics, technology and identity and explores the dynamics between mainstream culture and practices that challenge established ideas. In doing so, she expands the gaze to the global web of power and the continuities of colonialism and highlights how colonial structures and their legacies continue to shape today's social and political landscapes.