Ato Ribeiro translates symbolic modes of communication from across the African diaspora, shifting traditionally textile-based expressions into complex, geometric wooden tapestries. His interlocking patterns reference Ghanaian adinkra and kente cloth traditions, as well as African-American quilts that were coded with secret messages and maps along the Underground Railroad. Adinkra are visual representations of concepts and proverbs traditionally stamped on cloth or ceramics. Kente cloth conveys social status, spiritual beliefs, and cultural heritage through its distinctive, intricate strip-woven patterns and color combinations. In Home Away From Home #10 (2023), Ribeiro incorporates Adinkra symbols throughout, including Nsaa (excellence and authenticity), Nkyinkyim (life’s twisting path), and Owuo Atwedee (the universal ladder of death).
Ribeiro draws inspiration from renowned fiber artist Sonya Clark, whose work is displayed in the exhibition, We Are Each Other, in the adjacent galleries. He says, “We’ve always used textiles to share stories…my job is to make the world remember these contributions.” By meticulously cutting, gluing, curing, and slicing repurposed wood into assemblages that invoke the communicative power of African diasporic textiles, the artist is also engaged in a mode of archiving cultural knowledge.
