Here Africa

“Here Africa” at Museum of the Swiss Abroad assembles a unique collection of contemporary African art, with more than 70 works by 24 artists from 17 African countries.

Originally from the Maghreb and the sub-Saharan Africa, from different generations, some residing in Africa while others in the diasporas, the participating artists are interesting for not only their great contribution to the aesthetic and cultural history of their 4 continent, but also for their involvement in key questions regarding African people such as the dark period of the slavery, issues of immigration, climate change, water and food, health, as well as human rights, education and gender equality.

The image of “Here Africa” was created by Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (Ivory Coast) in December 2013.

“Here Africa” addresses the tension between languages and styles. Eschewing all notion of hierarchy, this exhibition presents us with different languages and media without categorising works by style, language or genre: portraits, landscapes, documents or photojournalism.

Top: Chéri Samba, Problème d'eau, 2004. Acrylic on canvas 135 x 200 x 4 cm. © Chéri Samba, Courtesy CAAC - The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva. Above: Faouzi Bensaïdi, Le mur, 2000 Short film, color, sound, 10’ Produced by Gloria Films Production, Agora Films, France 2, Canal + Horizons, Centre National de la Cinématographie. Courtesy of the filmmaker

Filipe Branquinho, Vendedor de mercado, 2011. Inkjet print on satin paper 40 x 50 cm. © Filipe Branquinho, Courtesy Galerie MAGNIN-A, Paris

Left: Edson Chagas, Oikonomos, 2011, C-print 6 photos, 103 x 103 cm each. Edition 3 + 2 AP. © Edson Chagas, Courtesy of the artist and A Palazzo Gallery, Brescia. Right: Romuald Hazoumè, Cher Maître, 2001. Mixed media 32 x 33 x 17 cm. Courtesy Art & Public Cabinet PH, Geneva

Left: Gonçalo Mabunda, Untitled (Mask), 2011. Decommissioned welded weapons, 70 x 50 x 9 cm. © Gonçalo Mabunda, Courtesy CAAC - The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva. Right: Mustafa Maluka, Untitled (Man), 2011. Acrylic and oil on canvas 183 x 133 cm. Courtesy of the artist and Galerie Sébastien Bertrand, Geneva

Abu Bakarr Mansaray, Allien Resurrection [sic], 2004. Graphite, colored pencils, ballpoint pen on paper 160,6 x 212,5 x 4 cm. © Abu Bakarr Mansaray. Courtesy CAAC - The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva

Left: J.D. ’Okhai Ojeikere, Coiling Penny Penny, 1974. Gelatin silver print 70 x 60,5 x 1,9 cm. © J.D.’Okhai Ojeikere. Courtesy CAAC - The Pigozzi Collection, Geneva. Right: Pieter Hugo, Sam Klein Karoo, 2003. Archival pigment ink on cotton rag paper 112 x 112 cm. Private Collection. Courtesy Galerie Sébastien Bertrand, Geneva

Sarkis & Guem & Perdrix, La victoire sur les sachets, 2008. Short film, color, sound , 3’ 15”. Segment of the long feature Stories on Human Rights, produced by ART for The World, 2008. Courtesy of the artists and ART for The World, Geneva

until July 06, 2014
Here Africa
Curated by Adelina von Fürstenberg
Museum of the Swiss Abroad
Château de Penthes
18 Chemin de l’Impératrice
Pregny, Geneva

Here Africa

“Here Africa” at Museum of the Swiss Abroad assembles a unique collection of contemporary African art, with more than 70 works by 24 artists from 17 African countries.

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