The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of December 21, 2025
Ties That Bind
2019
Location: Not on view
Did You Know?
It is the first time a museum’s collection has directly inspired the artist’s work.Description
Ties That Bind is an electronic composition designed to create ambient sounds for the CMA’s African art collection. It comprises digitally manipulated soundscapes of flowing water, water waves, a creaking boat, the strumming of mbira (thumb piano), staccato bass, tone, and slap of the djembe (drum), electronic drum, ichaka (rattle), voice chants, and spoken word. The multisensory work creates a soothing ambience, re-energizing the otherwise sedentary historical objects by adding an animated contemporary feel to the African gallery.- 2019Emeka Ogboh, Enugu, NG, 2019, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art2019–The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
- Cohen, Joshua I. "‘Narrative Wisdom and African Arts’ Review: Storytelling’s Power and Purpose," The Wall Street Journal. December 18, 2024. https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/fine-art/narrative-wisdom-and-african-arts-review-storytellings-power-and-purpose-69259d50 www.wsj.comLiebert, Emily, Emeka Ogboh, Ugochukwu-Smooth C Nzewi, Meki Nzewi, Meki Nzewi, and Cleveland Museum of Art. Ámà : The Gathering Place : Emeka Ogboh. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2019. Mentioned and reproduce: p. 38-39, fig. 15
- Narrative Wisdom and African Arts. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, MO (organizer) (October 19, 2024-January 5, 2025) https://www.slam.org/exhibitions/narrative-wisdom-and-african-arts/.No exhibition history.
- {{cite web|title=Ties That Bind|url=false|author=Emeka Ogboh|year=2019|access-date=21 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2019.34