Image © Image © Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) © Marco Cappelletti / Marco Cappelletti Studio
Benin City, Nigeria 2025
The opening of the MOWAA Institute, the first building of the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA)'s campus marks a significant moment in the evolution of cultural institutions on the African continent. While Lagos has drawn global attention in recent years as the epicentre of fashion, art and music, neighbouring Benin City is staking its claim as a major cultural destination with MOWAA.
Units
5
Display Exhibition Designer
Atelier Brückner
Designed by architects Adjaye Associates, with exhibition design by Atelier Brückner, the MOWAA campus features world-class exhibitions and public programming, attractive gardens and state-of-the-art facilities for conservation, research archaeology and research. Goppion prides itself on contributing to important cultural initiatives across the globe, so we were delighted to be commissioned by MOWAA. This project integrated several different requirements: graphics, fit-out and display cases.
Despite the geographical distance, we established a strong collaborative working relationship with the museum team. Goppion created five display cases for the public galleries, including three free-standing models with hinged door, internal stone plinths and pedestals, plus two table display cases.
Image © Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) © Marco Cappelletti / Marco Cappelletti Studio
Displayed within are fine examples of African sculptures in various media, including ceramics, terracotta and wood. Airtightness tests were conducted both in Italy and in Nigeria to ensure the fragile objects have maximum protection while on display. Our technical and engineering know-how helps to support MOWAA as a flagship facility for conserving, studying and displaying artifacts, as well as discoveries from ongoing local archaeology projects.
In addition to display cases, we also provided a range of other exhibit components for the galleries fit-out, including hundreds of object mounts, plus screen frames, catalog shelving, two self-supporting panels with exhibition captions and two magnetic exhibition panels in powder-coated tubular steel. Also notable is a large 17-meter-long media board, which will be used to support screens, speakers and projectors.
Goppion’s team always goes the extra mile when it comes to engineering design assist and attention to detail. During the design process on this project, great care was taken in selecting both the color palette and materials. After extensive discussion, a bronze finish was chosen for the metal parts and back-painting. This was specifically developed to evoke the red color of Benin’s distinctive laterite soil, on which the museum stands. This choice not only carries strong symbolic meaning and a connection to the local landscape, but also ensures the display cases integrate harmoniously into the exhibition space.
Similarly, a light natural stone type was selected for the internal plinths and some of the object mounts. The material selection was based on various samples provided by MOWAA, to ensure aesthetic consistency, and again, make a direct link with characteristics of the local environmental context.
MOWAA’s mission is to celebrate and deepen connections between West Africa's historic creative legacy and contemporary art scenes. By engaging in active heritage preservation projects, expanding cultural knowledge, and empowering African and Diaspora artists and scholars, it joins the ranks of globally important cultural institutions. Goppion wishes MOWAA well on its transformative journey ahead.
Image © Image © Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) © Marco Cappelletti / Marco Cappelletti Studio
Image © Image © Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) © Marco Cappelletti / Marco Cappelletti Studio