Chance Encounters: From Sabo to SoBO
There are many Africa-India stories, but for this one, the Sakshi Gallery (maybe not a misspelling of Saatchi, but reputed to be hip anyway), in the back streets of South Bombay near the Taj Mahal Hotel, has collaborated with The Centre for Contemporary Art, located in Lagos’s Sabo. The result is Chance Encounters: Seven Contemporary Artists from Africa. Seven, like the iconic Seven Stories about Modern Art in Africa organised by London's Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1995. This time, though, it is not about seven countries, but seven artists from north, west and southern Africa: a Moroccan, Ghanaian, three Nigerians, a Gabonese and Zimbabwean. Aarti Wa Njoroge visited the show and brings you a report about her chance encounter with seven African Artists in South Bombay Click here to read
posted by Bisi at
18:08
2 Comments:
Great to see African art in India. It will be interesting to see how the exhibition goes.
El Anatsui is really now in the spot light. I hope he can produce something that isn't full of African rubbish. Recycled ideas are just that. There is a danger that Africans across the board can make the mistake of too easily playing into the hands of those that want to see the Continent on it's knees.
Art can emanicapate a Nation and a Continent but only if the ideas are strong enough. Safaa Erruas is the woman who is leading by example. Her work is peaceful, soulful and really at the heart of what is important. Shape and ideas opposed to vibrant colour and definition. Her work is bravely and ambitiously moving away from the "Exotic" and into the intelligent abstract world of art.
It has been interesting showing in India and as soon as i have a minute I hope to update the blog with my experience.
I think at his age and with his experience El Anatsui is doing the kind of work he wants to do and not pampering to other's whims and fantasies. That it has widespread appeal is to his advantage. As for recyling ideas then I can only presume that you are not so conversant with his current work or how it continues with themes and issues he has explored over the past 30 years.
Safaa's work is striking in aesthetic and confident in its thematic. As for 'exotic' I always say it depends on where you are standing. To think that African art which deals with vibrant colours is 'exotic' is in itself a very primitive notion that has hampered the career of so many artists that I know. In the same vein one could say that the work of many Finnish photographers which tend to deal - almost perpetual - with the winter landscape and accompanying whiteness is also - from where i am standing - quite 'exotic'.
As for the abstract world of art being more intelligent, it almost smacks of the same kind of 'danger' you speak against in the 2nd paragraph.
Thanks for your comment and I do appreciate your contribution.
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