On our 'Entangled Pasts' - and how to move forward
As an 'Art, Colonialism and Change' exhibition will open at the Royal Academy in London, recent crimes make our present as bleak as the times in focus.
Dear readers,
Since 2006, I have been working as a journalist and researcher on international relations between Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, South West Asia and Africa, and how these relations are indeed marred with heavy past entanglements.
I focused on politics, but also history and the arts, going from Paris to London; Miami to Port-au-Prince, Haiti; New York to Tunis; Nairobi to Dakar; Mogadishu to Bangui; Algiers to Erbil; Niamey to Kampala; Istanbul to Bristol…
All places haunted by the consequences of colonialism and how to recover from the damages done.
So, when the opportunity to work with the Royal Academy again (my first event there was a discussion with the brilliant Guyanese British artist Hew Locke, in July 2023), I was both inspired and honoured.
Here are a few details about it.
Talk at The Royal Academy, London, Feb. 2024
Art and revolution
As part of the 'Entangled Pasts, 1768–now - Art, Colonialism and Change' exhibition - 3 February - 28 April 2024:
Week 1: Art and revolution with Melissa Chemam
An introduction to the history of the long relationship between art and conflict, from revolutions such as the French Revolution and the Haitian Revolution, to the present day.
Melissa Chemam is a journalist, broadcaster and writer on art, music, social change, multiculturalism, African affairs, North/South relations, and activism. She is the author of the book Massive Attack - Out of the Comfort Zone (2019), and has been published by BBC Culture, Al Jazeera, RFI English, Art UK, CIRCA Art Magazine, the Public Art Review, the New Arab, The Independent, Reader’s Digest, UP Mag and Skin Deep. She also worked as a journalism lecturer and as the writer in residence at the Arnolfini art centre, in Bristol, from 2019 to 2022.
Details about my talk here here: https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/event/lecture-series-protest-art-and-power
13 February 2024 - 6.30 - 7.45pm
Royal Academy of Arts - Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD, United Kingdom
About the exhibition:
https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/entangled-pasts
-
For more on the artists:
Read my interview with Lubaina Himid here: https://skindeepmag.com/articles/lubaina-himid-the-colours-of-our-past/
Listen to my piece for Radio 4 about her painting series 'Naming the Money' here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00132xf
Read my interview with Hew Locke from 2022, for Art UK here: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/hew-lockes-the-procession-transforming-darkness-into-joy
'Sonia Boyce: a revolutionary face of contemporary British art' - by Melissa Chemam: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/sonia-boyce-a-revolutionary-face-of-contemporary-british-art
'Land of many waters: an interview with Frank Bowling' - by Melissa Chemam: https://artuk.org/discover/stories/land-of-many-waters-an-interview-with-frank-bowling
On women artists, postcolonial art and the legacy of empires
https://melissachemam.medium.com/on-women-artists-postcolonial-art-and-the-legacy-of-empires-3d731fed6023
I’d be delighted to write further on the events after the talks. But it might take time.
I’d love to find partners for further research and writing.
Contact me if you’re interested in my research…
First, for now, I have to go to Senegal to cover an important election and reflect on the country’s relations with its neighbours in West Africa, and its allies in Western Europe.
My latest on that one:
Human Rights Watch warns of Senegal repression ahead of elections
Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Monday denounced Senegalese authorities for repressing opposition leaders, media and civil society, in a report published only five weeks before the West African nation holds its presidential election.
Issued on: 23/01/2024
Read on from here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20240123-human-rights-watch-warns-of-senegal-repression-ahead-of-elections
More about the consequences of colonialism:
Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso quit ECOWAS regional block
Three West African junta-led states Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso said on Sunday they are leaving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) immediately, according to a joint statement read out on Niger national television.
Issued on: 28/01/2024
The whole story here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20240128-niger-mali-and-burkina-faso-quit-ecowas-regional-block
And, related to culture, arts and sacredness, a story in development:
Britain to return looted crown jewels to Ghana, but only on loan
The UK is set to "loan back" a selection of gold and silver artefacts once worn by members of Asante royalty that were taken from Ghana some 150 years ago. The precious regalia will be displayed in the city of Kumasi, once the capital of the powerful Asante Empire.
Issued on: 26/01/2024
Many European museums are facing pressure to return artefacts and artworks acquired during colonial conquests.
Nigeria, Benin, Egypt and Ethiopia have already received back artefacts formerly exhibited in Europe.
Before I close this post, I cannot not mention the terrible cases of war crimes and ethnic cleansing currently happening in the world.
Because why would we want to remember the past, heal and repair it if we remain blind to the crimes committed in the present?
In Sudan and especially in the region of Darfur, in Northwest China’s Xinjiang region, and in Gaza.
On Friday 28 January, an important court decision confirmed that what is happening in the latter could qualify for ‘genocide’. Enquiries, investigations and trials will follow.
ICJ orders Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Friday ordered Israel to take measures to prevent acts of genocide in Gaza as it handed down a landmark ruling in a case brought by South Africa.
The whole story here: https://www.rfi.fr/en/international/20240126-icj-orders-israel-to-take-measures-to-prevent-acts-of-genocide-in-gaza
Now, instead of stopping the atrocities, the Israeli government is attacking the UN agencies helping the displaced Palestinians, especially UNRWA. And western governments from the USA, Australia, Canada, the UK, Italy and Germany are stopping their funding.
But now the aid to Gaza risks becoming untenable after February if funding does not resume, UNRWA says.
UN chief calls on countries to resume funding Gaza aid agency after allegations of militant ties
UN chief Antonio Guterres pleaded for donor states to "guarantee the continuity" of the body's Palestinian refugee agency after several halted funding over accusations of staff involvement in Hamas' 7 October attack on Israel.
Issued on: 28/01/2024
Let’s hope our governments find the courage to stop turning a blind eye every time a tragic human horror.
That’s the only way to not have to deal with the consequences for decades if not centuries on…
With my best regards,
melissa
-
Melissa Chemam
Journalist @ RFI English
