African Art
CHRIS THURMAN: Even billionaires want bargains: ultracontemporary artists raise the stakes
African art forms have long been subjected to fetishisation by the Global North. Throughout the 20th century, the art historians of the West focused much of their attention on fetish objects when discussing African artistic traditions — indeed, the fetish stood metonymically for art in and from Africa.
Read more: https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/opinion/columnists/2023-03-17-chris-thurman-even-billionaires-want-bargains-ultracontemporary-artists-raise-the-stakes/
The first retrospective of an artist whose works communicate “the most complex subjects with unwavering compassion” opens at an Edinburgh art gallery on Saturday.
For more than four decades, Tanzania-born artist Everlyn Nicodemus has been producing drawings, collages, paintings and textiles engaging with themes including the oppression of women, the impact of racism and her own personal trauma and recovery.
The Mboho exhibition, an annual event dedicated to celebrating and showcasing the diverse artistic traditions of Africa, is set to take place in London from October 10 to October 31, 2024. This year’s event coincides with Black History Month, adding a deep layer of cultural resonance.
Mboho will feature a wide array of artistic forms, including music, painting, body art, textiles, poetry, jewellery, sculpture, pottery, masks, and decorations. The exhibition aims to amplify Africa’s rich cultural heritage on the global stage by presenting unique pieces that span different decades, highlighting the nuances and interconnectedness of various artistic eras.
FNB Art Joburg, a staple in Johannesburg’s cultural calendar is set to return to the Sandton Convention Centre from September 6-8, 2024.
Now in its 17th edition, the fair has established itself as a premier platform for showcasing contemporary African art and culture.
Read more: A blossoming artist’s life cut short
It is said that the three-day event will feature various exciting activities, including the debut of a new section dedicated to photographers, dubbed GIF (Gallery Image Format). This innovative space will provide a platform for galleries to showcase the work of image makers, with the potential to expand to include all lens-based media in the future.
