Signs of the times

Roads have shaped Ndako Nghipandulwa’s life in more ways than one. As a civil engineer, they have been his workplace for years. As an artist, they have become an unexpected source of inspiration. Opening at The Project Room, his latest exhibition, titled Signs of the Times, sees these two worlds converge in a compelling new body of work created on discarded road signs.

“I work in the road construction industry, so road signs are something I’m surrounded by almost every day,” he explains. “Using them in my art felt like a natural step because it brings together two sides of my life that have always existed separately.”

The weathered road signs carry with them a history before the artist ever touches them. Designed to guide, warn and direct motorists, they become something altogether different once transformed through his intricate string drawings. Instead of instructing movement, they invite pause and reflection.

“I wanted to use that same visual language to tell different kinds of stories,” Nghipandulwa says. “By working on discarded road signs, I’m giving these objects a second life and turning something that once controlled movement into something that encourages people to stop, look and reflect.”

Those stories centre on people who are rarely the focus of artistic attention. Signs of the Times honours construction workers – the men and women responsible for building the roads, bridges and infrastructure that quietly shape everyday life. It is a subject Nghipandulwa knows intimately, having spent years working alongside construction crews on projects across the country. “I have a deep respect for hard work,” he says.

“We live in a world that constantly pressures people to achieve more, earn more and become more, but I don’t believe there’s anything ordinary about dedicating yourself to honest work that benefits everyone else.”

The works do not romanticise labour, nor do they seek to make heroes of their subjects. Instead, they recognise the dignity that exists within everyday work. These are the people who build the roads we travel, maintain the infrastructure we depend upon and often do so without recognition.

Engineering has profoundly shaped the way Nghipandulwa sees the world. His work has taken him to remote parts of Namibia where he has encountered people and stories that have quietly accumulated over time, eventually finding their way into his artistic practice. This exhibition becomes less a departure than a culmination – a reflection of years spent observing the country through the eyes of everyday labourers.

Looking back, the artist reflects on a journey he never expected. What began simply as a love of drawing has led to exhibitions, international residencies and collectors far beyond Namibia’s borders. Yet despite these milestones, he remains guided by curiosity rather than certainty.

“My practice is shaped by my experiences,” he says. “I can’t predict what my future work will look like because I don’t know what life is going to bring me. Every new place I visit, every person I meet and every experience I have has the potential to influence the stories I tell.”

In many ways, that openness is what makes this exhibition so compelling. Signs of the Times is not simply about roads or construction; it is about recognising the value of the people whose work often goes unnoticed. Through discarded road signs, Nghipandulwa gives visibility to those who quietly build, reminding us that every road has a story, and every story begins with someone willing to do the work. The exhibition Signs of the Times will open at The Project Room on 22 August 2026 and run till midSeptember.