Victor Sonna. 1525

While in New Orleans in 2015, Victor Sonna purchased shackles once used to subdue an enslaved person. Engraved on them was the number 152. This marked the start of a personal journey of discovery through Ghana, Suriname, and elsewhere. It culminated with an exhibition at the Van Abbemuseum featuring 152 unique artworks, plus several films and 52 prints in which Sonna addresses the subject of slavery. Published in conjunction with the exhibition, this book adds greater depth to his complex investigation and artworks, which frequently utilise and dramatically transform existing material. Sonna was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and moved to the Netherlands at a young age.