For his first solo presentation in Belgium, Emeka Ogboh developed a multi-sensory installation fusing sound, scent and visual elements at Beursschouwburg. The project unpacks the sensory and cultural power of petrichor - the distinct aroma released when rain meets dry soil - as a conduit for personal and collective memories. Drawing inspiration from Chinua Achebe’s descriptions of the rainy season in Things Fall Apart, Ogboh reflects on themes of resilience, nature’s rhythms, cosmology and community within his native Igbo culture.

In the Igbo worldview, the rainy season symbolizes both physical and spiritual renewal. When the rains arrive and yam tendrils begin to sprout, it reawakens a community deeply attuned to the seasonal cycles governing agricultural productivity and communal rhythm. Within this context, petrichor evokes about resilience and rebirth after prolonged drought - whether that be literally or metaphorically.

In his multifaceted practice, Ogboh focuses on the sociological implications of migration - with a specific interest in the African diaspora in a post-colonial Europe. Working predominantly with sound, he welcomes various sensorial aspects into his work to create layered and visceral experiences which reflect on cultural heritage, memory and belonging. 

Emeka Ogboh is a Nigerian artist based between Berlin and Lagos. Working across art, music and food, Ogboh transforms sensory experiences into powerful reflections on globalisation, post-colonial histories and cultural exchange. His work has been presented at major exhibitions including documenta 14 (Athens and Kassel), Skulptur Projekte Münster, the Venice Biennale and the Dakar Biennale. In recent years, Ogboh has released two albums: Beyond the Yellow Haze (2021) and 6°30’33.372”N 3°22’0.66”E (2022).