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An Emissary of friendship, Art Afrik returns to Beijing for its second edition
By Li Xiaoyu | VOL.11 July ·2019-07-25
A young visitor observes the work of Senegalese photographer Alun Be at the Art Afrik exhibition (LI XIAOYU)
Contemporary African art is making inroads into Beijing. An initiative of a group of young Africans studying in China, the second Art Afrik was held from May 17 to 26 at the AC Art Museum in Beijing, in the form of an exhibition that showcased the works of 14 contemporary artists from 10 African countries. The event was part of Africa Week, a series of cultural activities organized in the capital during the same period and with the same aspiration: to allow the Chinese public to better comprehend Africa.

8.7832° S, 34.5085° E ( Africa)

When entering the art gallery, the title of the exhibition Sir, where is this place? could be a little puzzling for the audience. But when looking at the paintings inside, a smile naturally appears on the face. This was the case with Ma Yuejun, professor in the Department of Fine Arts at the Beijing Film Academy (BFA).

Like most Chinese of his generation, Ma, 46, did not know much about the African continent in his youth; he identified it with one country, Kenya. It was through French and American artists that he was able to learn about Africa, while growing up. But that was not enough to really comprehend it.

That's why he considers this exhibition truly valuable. "Contemporary art, which includes photography and video, is one of the most effective ways for the Chinese public to learn more about the African continent," he said. "The audiences can indeed discover the regions of origin of the artists through their works and identify the points in common with his own culture. This allows th to get closer to each other."

Ma was very interested in a particular photo and shares his interpretation: he sees an aged body, wearing a traditional African mask, alongside a child wearing a virtual reality headset. According to him, whether we are Asian, American or African, our bodies are ancient. Biologically speaking, people have no difference. But today, people are part of a connected world, a world of technologies with a common way of life. Thus, people from different cultures are exposed to similar problems that they can discuss.

Ma then pointed to a Bauhaus style photo, which can usually be seen in German architecture. He also took note of a cemetery with the signs of the cross, which appear traditionally in the Christian culture. For him, globalization has long been rooted in African culture.

When this in mind, he thought again of the title of the exhibition, which, according to him, sends an edifying message: Africa, mysterious as it is, is familiar to the Chinese. "Everything is alike. It feels like home. "

This interpretation was echoed by Thebe G Radiakwana, a student from Botswana who is now studying at the BFA. "When we ask where Africa is, Africa comes to us in the form of art," said Radiakwana.

This year, Art Afrik is held in the form of an exhibition (KENTE&SILK)

Little seed, great hope

Among the visitors of the exhibition was Li Yixuan, a 25-year-old event manager in a technological media company. She still remembers the first edition of Art Afrik, during which she wrapped an African scarf around her head and made an African bracelet for herself with the help of an artist. Compared to last year, she found this year's event more formal but bolder. “This exhibition is a great way to learn about Africa in China. It shows the excellent works of artists from different parts of the continent,” she noted. “Photographers depict social problems in their works, making it easier for us to understand today's African society,” she noted.

It is exactly in this spirit that the exhibition was conceived, according to its curator James Sserwadda. Pursuring his Master of Fine Arts degree programs in film at the BFA, he specialized in art and design. He thought of communicating with the Chinese public through art, a tool that allows him to express his personal feelings in addition to bringing African and Chinese cultures closer. “I would like to become an ambassador between us and cultivate seeds of hope that will flourish one day,” he confides to ChinAfrica.

To this end, in collaboration with Megan Mace, an independent South African artist and curator, he set up this platform. It brought an opportunity for both Chinese audiences and African artists to communicate with each other.

For Miatta Momoh, one of the organizers of the Africa Week event, it was essential to include Art Afrik in its cultural program that introduces dance and music, while also passing through gastronomy. “Art helps us breaks free from the language barrier. It's great to open the dialogue in such a way,” she says.

According to her, although China is Africa's largest trading partner for years, there is a huge deficit in mutual knowledge. Thus, it is urgent to establish a mechanism that promotes cultural and human exchanges, outside the political sphere. Africa Week in general, and Art Afrik in particular are among the projects that serve this purpose.

In the future, Sserwadda said, he does not want to be content with celebrating African art only in Beijing. He plans to hold the exhibition soon in Guangzhou and hopes to see more African art forms appear in China.

(Comments to lixiaoyu@chinafrica.cn)

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