African art - worldwide - visual arts and the art of resistance
With a special podcast episode talking to African & diaspora artists from around the world in this busy cultural season, and more, including a node to my other other country: Algeria.
Dear readers,
This week, some colours, creativity, travels, arts…
This week, on my podcast Spotlight on Africa, I focus on African contemporary arts, which attract more and more interest during a busy season.
podcast
African art finds its place in world cultural events
From London to Paris, Angola and Senegal, artists and curators from the continent and from the diaspora reflect with me on the impact of cultural dialogues beyond their borders.
October and November 2024 see a wealth of art events for African creatives in the continent as well as in Europe and even beyond.
This episode brings a tour of different perspectives, with a deep focus on cultures from the diasporas.
While my colleague Ollia Horton has been to the Paris African art fair, Also Known As Africa (or AKAA), I went to London for the 1:54 African art fair.
To discuss the increasing interest for African art and their journey between continents, Ollia spoke to Victoria Mann, founder and director AKAA, and from artist Caribbean Christelle Clairville, and I to the French Belgo-Congolese artist Tiffanie Delune, while she was exhibiting in London.
You'll also hear from curators from the Sao Paulo Biennial in Brazil, Grada Kilomba and Helio Menezes, and finally, ahead of the Dakar Biennale, from the delightful French Algerian artist Dalila Dalleas Bouzar… who will share how she prepared for the event and why it is important to her.
Listen from here:
Cultural exchanges beyond borders as African art gains global interest
Or on Apple podcast from there:
In other news…
Acts of resistance are often glorified, when they’re romanticised in novels or films, and… taking place in Europe or North America. Yet, it is even harder in the rest of the world.
Here is one story that might resonate with current events for some of you.
Algeria - National Liberation Day
Seventy years after the start of the Algerian war on 1 Nov. 1954, relations with France are still strained
On the night of 31 October to 1 November 1954, a series of attacks occurred in different regions of colonial Algeria. Claimed by an organisation then unknown to the French intelligence services, calling itself FLN (for National Liberation Front), these attacks marked the beginning of the independence uprising, known 70 years later as the Algerian War.
Read more on my blog…
Link: https://melissa-on-the-road.blogspot.com/2024/11/algeria-1954-2024.html
Another beautiful story from this incredible rich month of October: An unsual one for me, in France…
As Paris was hosting multiple events, fairs and exhibitions around the new Art Basel event in October, I went to Burgundy to meet the team behind TERRA…
It is a monumental site-specific series of three exhibitions inviting artists from all around the world to relate with the French region known for its wines and traditions of hospitality.
And it was a marvelous experience:
This post is a short one.
Enjoy the beauty and richness if you have time.
I will post again very soon with different type of news…
Thanks for reading…
With my best wishes,
melissa
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Melissa Chemam
Journalist, Writer & Audio Producer
@ RFI English, New Arab, Byline Times...
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MelissaChemam