Ghanaian Artist Ibrahim Mahama Unveils ‘Voyageur’ Installation in Naples

Ghanaian contemporary artist Ibrahim Mahama has transformed three giant wooden boats into a public artwork exploring migration, movement and memory in Naples, Italy.

The installation, titled “Voyageur,” features three large wooden boats measuring approximately 5, 7 and 8 metres in height.

The boats were constructed using traditional Ghanaian models and techniques and have been positioned to appear partly buried in the ground at Piazza Municipio, near the Port of Naples.

Through the installation, Mahama connects West Africa with the Mediterranean, drawing attention to the journeys of people who cross the sea in search of safety, opportunities and a better future.

The artwork uses the familiar form of boats to reflect on movement across borders and the histories and memories carried by people during migration.

According to Mahama, the work creates a connection between the two regions while encouraging audiences to reflect on the experiences associated with journeys across the Mediterranean.

“Voyageur” was unveiled on September 21, 2026, and is expected to remain on display in Naples until November 18, 2026.

The installation adds to Mahama’s growing body of international work, which often explores themes including history, labour, migration, identity and the movement of people and materials.

Ibrahim Mahama, who hails from Tamale, Ghana, is an internationally recognised contemporary artist whose works have been exhibited in major cultural institutions and public spaces around the world.

Through “Voyageur,” the Ghanaian artist brings a distinctly West African perspective to a major European public space, using art to explore the connections between places, people and journeys.