As part of Africa 05, Tate has commissioned a wide-ranging programme. Africa 05 is a series of major cultural events taking place in London and the rest of the UK that celebrates contemporary and past cultures from across the continent and the diaspora. It has been developed by programme director Dr. Augustus Casely-Hayford with the aim of raising the profile of the huge diversity of African arts and culture by bringing them into the mainstream and encouraging Britain’s arts institutions to make links with artists from across the African continent and to reach out to African communities here in the UK.
Tate will hold a range of events to mark the festival, from an exhibition of emerging African artist Meschac Gaba to talks and discussions at Tate Modern and Tate Britain.
Events taking place over the next three months are listed below. Future events will be announced in June. Please seewww.tate.org.uk/africa05 for further details.
Black British Art: Abstract Expressionism to Neo-Conceptualism
Tate Britain Course, Tuesdays, 3 May – 24 May 2005, 18.30 –20.00
Led by Amna Malik, lecturer at The Slade School of Art
Tate Britain, Duffield Room
£45 (£35 concessions), booking required
This course explores 1950s abstract expressionist artists Aubrey Williams and Frank Bowling through to more recent work by Steve McQueen and Hew Locke. The four sessions consider different forms of theory and criticism and look at everything from anti-colonial and post-colonial writings to explorations of a black aesthetic.
Three Perspectives: Okwui Enwezor, Thelma Golden, Simon Njami
Tate Modern Event, Tuesday 14 June 2005, 18.30
Starr Auditorium, Tate Modern
£8 (£6 concessions)
This discussion event brings together three curators who, over the last ten years, have made significant contributions to changing the ways in which art of the black diaspora is seen and shown: Okwui Enwezor in founding Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art and directing Documenta 11; Thelma Golden with her landmark show Black Male and work at the Studio Museum In Harlem, Simon Njami with the establishment of the publishing institution Revue Noire and recently with Africa Remix. They will discuss the issues faced by the diasporic curator today. Chaired by David A Bailey and Hamza Walker.
In collaboration with the Curating Contemporary Art dept at the Royal College of Art
Meschac Gaba
Tate Modern Exhibtion, 25 June – 21 August
Open Sun-Thurs 10.00-18.00; Fri and Sat 10.00-22.00
Tate Modern, Level 2 gallery
Admission free
Meschac Gaba’s works examine the cultural and economic codes of exchange between Africa and the West, by engaging visitors in an exchange of ideas. His mixed-media installation at Tate Modern will be inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize. A special performance by the artist will take place on the landscape outside the gallery on Level 2, on Friday 24 June.
African Art Today
Tate Modern Course, Mondays, 20 June 2005 – 18 July 2005, 18.30–20.00
Led by Augustus Casely-Hayford
Tate Modern East Room
£70 (£45 concessions), booking required
Price includes drinks afterwards
Augustus Casely-Hayford leads five discussion seminars at Tate Modern which consider painting and sculpture, film, performance, video, literature, music, fashion, design and dance by artists already established in the international scene, as well as newly emerging talents. A number of visiting speakers, including Roger Malbert, John Picton, Nancy Hynes, Elisabeth Laloushek and Keith Shiri will contribute to the seminars.