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Origin and future

Gallery 203

FILM SPACE

In this space two short films by young filmmakers are screened in loop during the exhibition.

In many respects, culture in Africa is global. YouTube videos by such pop stars as Beyoncé or Katy Perry are clicked on just as frequently as anywhere else. At the same time, the culture is deeply anchored in the history of the continent and many in the creative sector now seek to reflect on these roots, especially in response to the globalized state of the world. The website of French-Congolese musician Taali M, for example, should be understood as an invitation to an ancient African kingdom, according to art director Pierre- Christophe Gam.

A key role is played by Africa’s centuries-long history of colonialization and, in particular, a type of textile that erroneously became a symbol of (West) African tradition: Dutch Wax, also called Ankara. In the mid-nineteenth century, several Dutch and English companies commenced industrial production of Indonesian batik fabrics, among which Vlisco soon became the market leader (and remains so to this day). How the textiles made their way to Africa is subject to dispute, yet the colorfully patterned wax prints quickly grew so popular on the continent that they never really reached the originally intended Dutch market. Today many designers and artists make use of Dutch Wax for their creations. At the same time, an increasing number of critical voices have questioned the embrace of this colonial commodity.