Art enthusiasts can look forward to a taste of African art, albeit via London, as the Contested Terrains Exhibition rolls into the Tate Modern tomorrow.The exhibition displayed in the Tate’s Level 2 Gallery aims to showcase the work of four contemporary artists both from and working in Africa; each one reclaiming and creating dialogue through their art, allowing them to respond to various representations of economical and political African history.
The list includes Nigeria’s Adolphus Opara whose portraits of Nigerian diviners make for a sturdy response to colonial depictions of African stereotypes.
While Michael MacGarry of South Africa, allows his ivory carvings to speak on and tell a story of the horrid effects of war.
In addition Congolese Sammy Baloji and Kader Attia a native of France but who currently resides in Berlin and Algiers, will also have their work displayed in the most famous art gallery in London.
The launch of the exhibition comes after the joint partnership between the Tate and Nigeria’s Guaranty Trust Bank, aimed to create a platform by where contemporary African art can reach a cross continental audience, while simultaneously giving the Tate Modern an exciting buzz attracting a whole new set of visitors.
You can make your way down to see the show from Friday 29 July to its closing day on Sunday 16 October. Subsequent to this, the exhibition will be moved to the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos, opening on 21 January and closing on 3 March 2012.
