Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent features the work of more than 80 artists from 25 countries on the African continent and the diaspora. It is considered to be the largest exhibition of contemporary African art ever seen in Europe, it includes painting, sculpture, installation, video, drawing, photography and design. Prince Claus Fund supported the travel of the exhibition to Johannesburg.
Africa Remix explores the themes of city and land (the contrasting experiences of urban and rural life), identity and history (including issues of tradition and modernity and the relation of the individual to the community), and body and soul (religion, spirituality, emotion and sexuality).
The exhibition was launched at the Museum Kunst Palast in Dusseldorf, Germany and subsequently travelled to the Hayward Gallery in London, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo and the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Sweden.
The exhibition has been curated by Cameroon born, Paris based curator and critic Simon Njami. Els van der Plas, Director of the Prince Claus Fund was advisor and the Fund’s financial support enabled the exhibition to travel to Johannesburg.
Ever since the great world expositions of the 18th and 19th centuries by the colonizing powers of Europe, the portrayal of Africa has
largely been determined by westerners.
The representation of Africa and African subjects has been defined in terms of ‘essentialist’ notions of primitivism and race. According to Joseph Conrad, Africa is the ‘dark continent’.
The idea to bring Africa Remix to South Africa is an attempt to address the historical imbalances and inaccurate portrayal of the image of Africa that has been so prevalent.
Never before in the history of the continent has an exhibition of such magnitude focusing exclusively on Africa been shown to African audiences. To date, exhibitions on Africa are curated by non-Africans, are held either in Europe or the United Sates of America and are funded by western institutions, governments and corporations.
The exhibition can currently be seen at the Johannesburg Art Gallery, the main municipal art museum for the City of Johannesburg located in the oldest park in the city, Joubert Park.
The exhibition will run from March – July of 2007 and would fill the entire art Gallery at approximately 3000m2 of exhibition space. The exhibition at each venue has been accompanied by a catalogue. Similarly for the Johannesburg leg, a South African version of the catalogue will be produced. Moreover, an international conference will be held to coincide with the exhibition including delegates from the African continent and the diaspora. Another significant component to the exhibition will be the education programme that includes an education supplement to the exhibition, tours, seminars and walkabouts.
Artwork by South African artist Jane Alexander, part of Africa Remix
Victorian Philantropist's Parlour by Yinka Shonibare, part of Africa Remix
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