Sankofa Building

SANKOFA BUILDING
Type: Mural and Installation
Featured Artist: Troydel Wallace, K. Mensah
Augmented Reality Experience: Chris Ak, Jonah Lewis,
LOCATION: Evergreen Brickworks, 550 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4W 3X8


MEDIUM: warrior Vinyl murals + Aluminum composite material (ACM)


PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
“Sankofa Building” is an intergalactic interactive multimedia art installation presented by AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives.

The art in the installation encourages visitors to engage with the rich history of Evergreen Brick Works through an Afrofuturistic lens presented as a speculative mission being conducted by Afronauts (Black space and time travelers). The embarked upon mission is an extension of AstroSankofa Arts Initiatives’ Afronautic Universe works (think of is as our version of the Marvel Cinema Universe) , This iteration contains art renderings by award winning illustrator Troydel Wallace, a long-standing collective member, with contributions by Danilo Deluxo, Chris Akurate, and K. Mensah.

Each of Troydel Wallace’s renderings around the site is accompanied by QR codes that will trigger augmented reality (AR) experience that features 3D animations that contain poetry voiced by artists from R.I.S.E. Edutainment and historical facts relating to different parts of the sites’ legacy. There is also an activity sheet that visitors can download and conduct a “scavenger hunt” and win a prize via social media entry ~
#SANKOFABUILDING.


Through the art, interactive media and various animated engagements, the project in turns encourages one to think about the bricks that are laying in their lives to build themselves up to be a greater version of themselves.


PROJECT IS A PART OF THE ANIMATING HISTORIC SITE PROGRAM.
produced with the support of the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council

A statement from the illustrator Troydel Wallace:
The illustrations explore the concept of traveling back in time to witness the events that shaped the history of the Evergreen Brick Works. These series of artworks narrate the connection between the past and the future, embodying the natural theme of Afrofuturism. The artwork depicts a visual story of futuristic travelers who draw inspiration from the factory's machinery, incorporating steampunk aesthetics. In this distant future, two brilliant African scientists have constructed a time machine, utilizing technology so advanced that it appears magical. Fashion and equipment reflect the early 1900s, creating the perfect camouflage for these scientists to blend in. Their goal is to uncover ancient machines hidden within the brickworks, resembling mechanical prehistoric beavers and salmon. Through this discovery, they hope to gain a deeper understanding of the history behind Evergreen Brickworks.