In March 2021, we, Rosalie van Deursen (art historian and founder of Urban Africans) and Loes Kuijpers (museologist and founder of Taxi Bamako and Moogo) launched ‘Let’s Talk About Art!’, an online art laboratory for young emerging and socially critical artists from Mali and Senegal.
As big fans of Africa and contemporary art in Africa, we realized that the often non-existent cultural infrastructure and lack of social support on the African continent is a huge challenge for visual artists. Our ambition with this art lab was to give more visibility to contemporary art in Africa. So that the artists and their work receive the attention they deserve locally, regionally and internationally.
‘Let’s talk about art!’ operated as an art lab where artists learned to reflect and investigate together in different ways. For 9 months, 9 selected artists participated in the online program which consisted of lectures alternating with workshops. With Loes Kuijpers and Rosalie van Deursen as mentors and a wide range of guest teachers from the African continent and the Diaspora. The emphasis was on stimulating a curious and critical attitude, which calls for self-reflection.
During the program we offered an artistic and theoretical basis combined with practical work. In addition, we have paid a lot of attention to preparation for professional practice, writing about the work, self-presentation, relationships with clients and collectors, so that an infrastructure is created and the artist can sell his work.
The result is there: two magnificent exhibitions in Mali (2021) and the Netherlands in 2022. So … ‘Let’s talk about art!’
Exhibition in House of Dialogue in Bussum, The Netherlands:
Please note: In addition to the works of the artists who have participated in our art laboratory, we expanded the exhibition in Bussum (The Netherlands) with art from a number of other society critical contemporary artists of the African continent.
We are Monique and Erik, 2 of our ambassadors, very grateful for their invitation to exhibit the artworks in ‘The House of Dialogue’ in Bussum. A beautiful workspace in an old chocolate factory. A place that fits perfectly with our project where it is also about connecting, communication and exchange of thoughts.
Visit the exhibition:
When: From February 19 to September 18, 2022
Where: House of Dialogue, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat 11, Bussum
Opening: Saturday, February 19: 2:30 pm – 5pm
Finissage: Sunday September 18: 11 am – 2 pm
Artists: Kine Aw, Kh Bamba, Barkinado Bocoum, Ange Dakouo, Dioman, El Bachir Diouf, Pamela Enyonu, John Kamicha, Abdoulaye Armin Kane, Yaye Habibatou Keita, Amy Celestina Ndione, Piniang, Diakaridia Sangaré, Ephrem, Solomon Tegegn, David Thuku, Daouda Traore, Diakaridia Traore, Moussa Traore.
Installing the works with the help of Marieke Luthart.
Some impressions of the exposition in Bamako, Mali, November 2021:
Catalogus in het Nederlands lezen? Klik op onderstaande pagina’s:
