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Media Minerals

Incorporating music, spoken word, and video projection, Larry Achiampong & David Blandy’s performance Media Minerals reflects on how politics of race affect relationships in an age of technology and globalization. The artists have a scripted encounter that relates their personal experiences and geopolitical observations. Their friendship — forged through virtual spaces like video games or WhatsApp — is tested as they consider how the lives of their respective children differ from each other, and what the future may hold for all of mankind. The Media Minerals performance takes the raw materials of the Finding Fanon series into the physical space.




With:


Larry Achiampong, artist


David Blandy, artist




Presented in collaboration with New Art Exchange.


Photo: Colin Davison.

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Digital Histories in Africa

When talking about technology and its cultural impact, the American-led internet and Silicon Valley are always taken as the global technological standard. This disregards important parallel histories of technological development in different regions across the world, that are shaping the future of digital technologies. Looking at questions of techno-epistemologies, extractivism, algorithmic colonialism and digital activism, artistic practices related to Africa have engaged with technology through a wide spectrum of conceptual and creative methodologies. The panel will address current artistic practices in this field and the related platforms for international research and curatorial presentation.




“[…] now billions of Earthlings carry little bits of Africa around with them in their pockets.”


–Benjamin Bratton




With:


Francois Knoetze, artist


Emo de Medeiros, artist


Tabita Rezaire, artist


Arthur Steiner, Programme Manager, Digital Earth, Hivos




Presented in collaboration with Digital Earth.


Image: Emo de Medeiros, Vodunaut #003 (Hyperfeeler), 2016. Courtesy of the artist.



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Black Archive Alliance: an Italian perspective

⁣Over the past 4 years Black History Month Florence has advanced over 250 events in the city of Florence connected to Blackness and Afro-Descendent cultures. With events ranging from workshops to talks, concerts and cinema, an emphasis has been placed on the curation of contemporary art as a means for developing new language and fostering research within the Italian context.




Presented by Justin Randolph Thompson, Co-Founder and Director of Black History Month Florence




Image: Courtesy of Black History Month Florence





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Art and Agency⁣

⁣In today’s increasingly international art world, how can we create new platforms that centre around artists rather than artworks? Organized in partnership with Crane Projects, a multifaceted agency for contemporary African art, Ibrahim Mahama (artist and founder of the project space Savannah Centre for Contemporary Art) and Osei Bonsu (curator and founder of Crane Projects) will discuss the dynamic structures supporting the next generation of artists on the continent.⁣


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With:⁣


Ibrahim Mahama, artist


Osei Bonsu, independent curator⁣




Presented in collaboration with Crane Projects⁣.


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Image: Ibrahim Mahama, Mallam Atta Market, 2012, from Out of Bounds (Crane Editions, 2015). Courtesy of the artist and Crane Projects.⁣


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Africa State of Mind: culture, identity and politics in contemporary African photography

Africa State of Mind: culture, identity and politics in contemporary African photography 


 


The discussion considers how recent photographic practice from Africa is exploring themes of history, politics, race and gender, as well as interrogating ideas of ‘Africanness’ through subjective renderings of culture and identity on the continent.




With:


Shiraz Bayjoo, artist


Christine Eyene, independent curator


Paul Goodwin, independent curator


Kiluanji Kia Henda, artist


 


In conversation with Ekow Eshun, independent curator


 


Presented in collaboration with New Art Exchange.


Shiraz Bayjoo’s participation in Venice is supported by International Curators Forum (ICF) and Outset Contemporary Art Fund.


 


Image: Shiraz Bayjoo, Searching for Libertalia Cabinet Two, 2018, giclee print on Hahnemühle pearl paper. Courtesy of the artist.



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African art at the Venice Biennale: history, challenges and opportunities⁣

⁣Preceded by a historical overview of the presence of contemporary African art at the Venice Biennale from 1922 onwards, the discussion will focus on key challenges to the expansion of representation of creative practices from the continent in the context of Venice. The panel will also explore the opportunities and creative solutions that have been identified through the years.⁣


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Historical Overview and Introduction:⁣ Rikke Jørgensen, Founder, Arts & Globalization Platform⁣


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With:⁣


Joël Andrianomearisoa, artist, Madagascar Pavillion ⁣2019


Raphael Chikukwa, curator, Zimbabwe Pavillion⁣ 2019


Emmanuel Dayde, curator, Madagascar Pavillion 2019


Martin Kennedy, curator, Seychelles Pavillion⁣ 2019


Nkule Mabaso, curator, South African Pavilion⁣ 2019


Gonçalo Mabunda, artist, Mozambique Pavillion⁣ 2019


Nomusa Makhubu, curator, South African Pavilion⁣ 2019


Nana Oforiatta-Ayim, curator, Ghana Pavillion⁣ 2019


Rina Ralay-Ranaivo, curator, Madagascar Pavillion⁣ 2019


Massimo Scaringella, curator, Ivory Coast Pavillion⁣ 2019


Amina Zoubir, artist, Algerian Pavillion⁣ 2019


⁣


Moderated by Osei Bonsu, independent curator⁣⁣




Image: Jelili Atiku, Mama Say Make I Dey Go, She Dey My Back, performance at the 57th Venice Biennale, Arsenale, Venice, Italy (Friday May 12 2017). Credit: @andrewesiebo ⁣



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Cross-Cultural Imaginaries within a Diaspora Context

“Cross – Cultural Imaginaries within a Diaspora Context”


Being a nomadic nature of artists and how that can or might have an influence on one’s work


Curated and moderated by: Palesa Motsumi, (in the photo by  Jack Once Productions) independent curator, Founder of Sematsatsa Library, South Africa


With: Renee Mboya, writer, curator, filmmaker, Nairobi, Nontsikelelo Veleko, photographer, South Africa, Hugues Makaba Ntoto, writer, photographer


Where: The Artists Auditorium


Useful information:


The African Art in Venice Forum is held in two Auditoriums in the same venue, Hotel
Monaco, Piazza San Marco 1332, 30124 Venezia. Entrance from Calle del Ridotto.


The Institutional Auditorium, “Corte” room, and the Artists Auditorium, “Vallaresso” room, are accessible from two different staircases. The African Art in Venice Team, will be waiting for you at the entrance of the Venue.


The program of the two Auditoriums is organized in sections that look at how the African art scene relates to the world, to itself, and to the cross-border tool of the web. The program of the Artists Auditorium will look at how artists interact with their communities and the broader African and global art scene, and will also highlight the current rise of performance practices, new feminist narratives, as well as activism amongst young creatives on the continent.


“Outlook” section
Africa outside of Africa, how African art scene relates to the global one


“Within & Without” section
The diversity of art ecosystems in the African continent, organizations, events and artists


“.org” section
Digital platforms for the promotion of the arts in Africa. Not for profit organizations, art education and social development.

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African Imaginary Countries

“African Imaginary Countries” cross-border and no-borders narratives in African practices.




Moderated by: Ilaria Conti, Research Curator, Cosmopolis, Centre George Pompidou



With: Ingrid Masondo, curator at the South African National Gallery, Ugo Ikpeazu, Founder at Ferrum, Social Development Consultant, Younes Bouadi head of research and production of Studio Jonas Staal and the New World Summit, Neelika Jayawardane, co-founder of Africa is a Country



Where: Institutional Auditorium




Useful information:




The African Art in Venice Forum is held in two Auditoriums in the same venue, Hotel
Monaco, Piazza San Marco 1332, 30124 Venezia. Entrance from Calle del Ridotto.




The Institutional Auditorium, “Corte” room, and the Artists Auditorium, “Vallaresso” room, are accessible from two different staircases. The African Art in Venice Team, will be waiting for you at the entrance of the Venue.




The program of the two Auditoriums is organized in sections that look at how the African art scene relates to the world, to itself, and to the cross-border tool of the web. The program of the Artists Auditorium will look at how artists interact with their communities and the broader African and global art scene, and will also highlight the current rise of performance practices, new feminist narratives, as well as activism amongst young creatives on the continent.




“Outlook” section
Africa outside of Africa, how African art scene relates to the global one




“Within & Without” section
The diversity of art ecosystems in the African continent, organizations, events and artists




“.org” section
Digital platforms for the promotion of the arts in Africa. Not for profit organizations, art education and social development.

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Artists Projects Beyond Their Practice: Kendell Geers

“Artists Projects Beyond Their Practice: Kendell Geers”


Kendell Geers, artist, South Africa


Where: Artists Auditorium


Useful information:


The African Art in Venice Forum is held in two Auditoriums in the same venue, Hotel
Monaco, Piazza San Marco 1332, 30124 Venezia. Entrance from Calle del Ridotto.


The Institutional Auditorium, “Corte” room, and the Artists Auditorium, “Vallaresso” room, are accessible from two different staircases. The African Art in Venice Team, will be waiting for you at the entrance of the Venue.


The program of the two Auditoriums is organized in sections that look at how the African art scene relates to the world, to itself, and to the cross-border tool of the web. The program of the Artists Auditorium will look at how artists interact with their communities and the broader African and global art scene, and will also highlight the current rise of performance practices, new feminist narratives, as well as activism amongst young creatives on the continent.


“Outlook” section
Africa outside of Africa, how African art scene relates to the global one


“Within & Without” section
The diversity of art ecosystems in the African continent, organizations, events and artists


“.org” section
Digital platforms for the promotion of the arts in Africa. Not for profit organizations, art education and social development.

By

Building Sustainable Art Sectors in Africa – the rise of new galleries”

“Building Sustainable Art Sectors in Africa – the rise of new galleries” A discussion that will seek to create an overview of the cultural economics in the context of African contemporary art as well as the role of emerging African galleries in decolonising the context of art production on the continent.


Curated by Valerie Kabov – Co-founder of EAAGA, Editor at Large Art Africa Magazine, Director First Floor Gallery Harare,
With: Marc Stanes – Director/Curator Ebony Curated, independent art advisor, Arlene Wandera, Artist, Kenya, Victoria Mann, founder of AKAA.
Where: Institutional Auditorium


Useful information:


The African Art in Venice Forum is held in two Auditoriums in the same venue, Hotel
Monaco, Piazza San Marco 1332, 30124 Venezia. Entrance from Calle del Ridotto.


The Institutional Auditorium, “Corte” room, and the Artists Auditorium, “Vallaresso” room, are accessible from two different staircases. The African Art in Venice Team, will be waiting for you at the entrance of the Venue.


The program of the two Auditoriums is organized in sections that look at how the African art scene relates to the world, to itself, and to the cross-border tool of the web. The program of the Artists Auditorium will look at how artists interact with their communities and the broader African and global art scene, and will also highlight the current rise of performance practices, new feminist narratives, as well as activism amongst young creatives on the continent.


“Outlook” section
Africa outside of Africa, how African art scene relates to the global one


“Within & Without” section
The diversity of art ecosystems in the African continent, organizations, events and artists


“.org” section
Digital platforms for the promotion of the arts in Africa. Not for profit organizations, art education and social development.