Perspectives of Africa

Vernissage in the presence of the artists on 23 January 2025 at 17:00.
Exhibition opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 - 17:00. Weekend visits by appointment: +41 (0)76 596 05 13.

Exhibition organised as part of Ecolint's 100th anniversary celebrations, in partnership with the association Diapalante Arts, Education, and Culture, Ilab, and the Cantonal Fund for Contemporary Art.

Exhibition curator: Dr. Momar Seck, Head of Visual Arts at La Grande Boissière Secondary School.

Africa steps forward: its art, its voice, its vision. Through the lens of contemporary creativity, the continent asserts its freedom to define its past and shape its future within the global concert of civilizations.

The exhibition “Perspectives of Africa” celebrates the richness and vitality of contemporary African art by bringing together internationally renowned figures and promising emerging talents. This intergenerational dialogue showcases a multifaceted Africa, where each work contributes to reshaping contemporary perceptions while embracing complex and diverse identities.

This exhibition offers an immersive exploration of the myriad dimensions of African artistic expression, blending harmony with boldness. Painting, sculpture, performance, installation, video, photography, and digital art converge to narrate stories deeply rooted in cultural realities yet open to the dynamics of a globalized world. Far from static, these narratives reveal an Africa in constant transformation—an Africa full of contrasts and profound questions.

The artists featured in this exhibition share a common vision: one of grounding their work in a shared space, collective memory, and cultural heritage. However, this grounding is not a limitation; it is a springboard for universal exploration. They draw from communal life—from its tensions, gaps, and challenges—to fuel a creativity that transcends borders. Their art pulses with a belief in the transformative potential of reimagining tradition, whether through preservation or radical reinvention.

“Perspectives of Africa” pays tribute to this relentless pursuit of authenticity and renewal. These artists, deeply aware of the legacy of traditional African art—statues, masks, and ancestral symbols—also engage with the movements of modern and contemporary art from the 20th century. The result is a bold hybridity that rejects binary oppositions between "local" and "global," between "heritage" and "innovation." They build bridges, not walls, creating spaces of connection between Africa and the West, between past and future, between the particular and the universal.

In a postcolonial context often marked by tension, these artists champion a freedom of creation untethered from restrictive frameworks. They question the natural and cultural environments that shape their practices while offering fresh perspectives on the world. Their art, imbued with unparalleled vitality, becomes a tool for reflection and a means of exploring social transformations and contemporary identities.

At a time when Africa is asserting itself as a thriving hub of creativity, “Perspectives of Africa” offers a visual map of a continent in flux. Each artwork invites viewers to discover a unique territory, a shared memory, and a collective future. Beyond aesthetics, this exhibition delivers an immersive experience that challenges, transforms, and enriches the viewer's perspective.

Celebrating depth, diversity, and daring, “Perspectives of Africa” is an invitation to delve into the vibrant universe of contemporary African art—where cultural boundaries dissolve, and imaginations converge to redefine what it means to be African in today’s world.

Artists:
Soly Cissé – Senegal
Abdoulaye Ndoye – Senegal
Barthélémy Toguo – Cameroon
Ana Silva – Angola
Gilles Dusabe – Rwanda
Momar Seck – Senegal
Vieux Niang – Senegal
Pascal Konan – Ivory Coast
Dominique Zinkpè – Benin
Sifiso Themba – South Africa
Zemba Luzamba – Democratic Republic of the Congo
Duke Asidere – Nigeria
Lovemore Kambudzi – Zimbabwe
Alhassane Konté – Mali
Baudoin Mouanda – Democratic Republic of the Congo, Brazzaville
Claire Marboeuf – Ivory Coast
Moustapha Baidi Oumarou – Cameroon
Ebrima Gitteh – Gambia
Moussa Ndiaye – Senegal