The Journey of Things by Magdalene Odundo (InOtherWords, 2019)
The Journey of Things is both a book and an exhibition catalogue, but it reads like something more—an exploration of how objects travel, carry memory, and accumulate meaning. Centered on the extraordinary ceramic work of Magdalene Odundo, it situates her vessels within a constellation of references: African traditions, European modernism, ancient archetypes, and contemporary dialogue.
The book doesn’t just document her practice; it contextualizes it. Odundo’s work is presented alongside artifacts, artworks, and objects that inform her vision, showing how influences cross geographies and histories. In doing so, it suggests that making is never isolated—it is always in conversation with what came before, and with the wider cultural landscape.
Editorially, The Journey of Things inspires because it frames craft as an ongoing exchange, not a static tradition. Odundo’s vessels—so distinct in their form and surface—become anchors in a wider narrative about material, identity, and continuity. Leafing through its pages, you’re reminded that objects are not just things we use or admire; they are carriers of time, thought, and cultural journeys.
