Otobong Nkanga. 08 Black stone, 2017

Block of soap, 5.5 x 5.5 x 3.7 cm, with embossed drawing. Housed in printed black paper box, 6.2 x 6.2 x 4 cm. The handmade soap contains butters and oils from across the Mediterranean, Middle East, North and West Africa, fused together with water, lye and charcoal.

The multiple was made in conjunction with Nkanga's project 'Carved to flow' at Documenta 14 in Athens and Kassel in 2017. The soap was first produced in a public workshop session in Athens, and then sold during performances in Kassel. Proceeds went to the Carved to Flow Foundation: a non-profit exhibition space in Athens and an organic farm/community centre in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. The box shows soap stains, the block is intact.