The palaver tree, a traditional symbol of dialogue, gathering, and shared wisdom, serves as a central metaphor. Like a living palaver tree, the project invites the public to gather in a shared space for healing, reflection, and cultural renewal. Historical loss is transformed into a living artistic language that encourages participation rather than passive observation.
Through interactive sculptures, performances, and public discussions, the artist creates opportunities for communal engagement and the reappropriation of heritage. Audiences are invited to take part in the collective reconstruction of memory and meaning, questioning the role art can play in healing the wounds of colonial history.
Nkolo plans to conduct archival research at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Belgium. This research will inform new works that draw on traditional forms and symbols while reimagining them through a contemporary, forward-looking lens. Under the Palaver Tree is inspired by honor collective memory. In this project, the artist reimagines Kongo sculptures destroyed by Portuguese forces in 1492, when the King of Kongo was baptized into Christianity. This moment marked a profound rupture between cultural heritage and collective identity. Through this work, the artist explores how art can help restore lost connections with history and culture.
