Category: African Diaspora
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Decolonising Minds and Museums through Contemporary Art Activism
“Transforming Museums, Decolonizing Minds,” by Carol Ann Dixon, Ph.D. features in Volume 47 (Issue 4) of the Journal of Museum Education – published January 5, 2023. This paper on anti-racist and decolonial activism within art museums, experimental project spaces and collections of ethnography is one of ten in a special issue focused on Activist Pedagogies in Museum Studies and Practice. Please see: Dixon, C. A. (2022) Transforming Museums, Decolonizing Minds: Three Politically Aesthetic Interventions by African Diaspora Artists, Journal of Museum Education, 47:4, 459-475. https://doi.org/10.1080/10598650.2022.2140554.
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Examining Switzerland’s Colonial Past at MEG: Musée d’Ethnographie de Genève, December 2022
Illustrated reviews of two exhibitions at MEG (Musée d’ethnographie de Genève), Switzerland’s largest world cultures museum, visited during December 2022: (1) “The Archives of Human Diversity” – a showcase of c.1000 cultural objects from MEG’s permanent collections; (2) “Helvécia: A Forgotten Colonial History” – a photojournalistic presentation of African-origin cultural traditions and heritage practices commemorated by contemporary Helvécians with African ancestry in Bahia, Brazil.
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Antelope, by Samson Kambalu – Fourth Plinth Public Art Commission, 2022-2024
Images taken at night of the 14th public art commission for Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth illuminate the bronze sculpture “Antelope” by British-based artist Samson Kambalu (b. 1975, Malawi). This monumental, larger-than-life figurative work restages an iconic 1914 image of Malawian Baptist minister and anti-colonial activist John Chilembwe pictured alongside British missionary John Chorley. Their hats reveal a powerful story…
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1-54 London, 2022: Celebrating 10 Years of the Contemporary African Art Fair at Somerset House
The October 2022 edition of 1-54 London – a major art fair showcasing modern and contemporary works by African and African Diaspora artists – celebrated its tenth anniversary at Somerset House. This illustrated review presents a selection of the standout exhibits, including Grada Kilomba’s Fountain Court installation, “O Barco/The Boat” (2021), photography and bronze casts by Zanele Muholi, and figurative paintings by Sikelela Owen.
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In the Black Fantastic – African Diaspora Artists Visualising A Future Beyond Racialisation
Carol Ann Dixon’s illustrated review of ‘In the Black Fantastic,’ curated by Ekow Eshun. This group exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London (29 June – 18 September 2022), featured works by eleven internationally acclaimed African diaspora artists. Elements of myth, spirituality, folklore, otherworldly imaginings and speculative fiction combined to offer creative responses to everyday experiences of racialisation in the West.
MUSEUM GEOGRAPHIES 