Press Release

HERE AFRICA Contemporary Africa seen through the Eyes of its Artists

Opening May 7, 2014 at 6pm

Exhibition May 8 – July 6, 2014 Château de Penthes Ch. de l’Impératrice, Geneva-Pregny

A project by ART for The World, ONG associated with the UNDPI Curated by Adelina von Fürstenberg

HERE AFRICA assembles a unique collection of contemporary African art and performances including approximately 60 works of more than 26 interesting artists from the African continent, for the first time in Switzerland, in the premises of Château de Penthes, located in the area of United Nations and of the international organizations.

The artists included in the exhibition are the following: Georges Adéagbo (Benin), Omar Ba (Senegal), Faouzi Bensaïdi* (Morocco), Filipe Branquinho (Mozambique), Frédéric Bruly Bouabré (Ivory Coast), Edson Chagas (Angola), Romuald Hazoumé (Benin), Pieter Hugo (South Africa), Adelita Husni-Bey (Libia), Nadia Kaabi-Linke (Tunisia), Bodys Isek Kingelez (Congo), Gonçalo Mabunda (Mozambique), Mustafa Maluka (South Africa), Abu Bakarr Mansaray (Sierra Leone), J.D.’Okhai Ojeikere (Nigeria), Joshua Okoromodeke (Nigeria), Richard Onyango (Kenya), Idrissa Ouédraogo* (Burkina Faso), Chéri Samba (Congo), Sarkis & Guem (Benin), Zineb Sedira (Algeria), Malick Sidibé (Mali), Abderrahmane Sissako* (Mauritania), Yinka Shonibare (UK-Nigeria), Pascale Marthine Tayou (Cameroon), Barthélémy Toguo (Cameroon).

Originally from the Maghreb and the sub-Saharan Africa, from different generations, some residing in Africa while others in the diasporas, the participating artists are interesting for not only their great contribution to the aesthetic and cultural history of their continent, but also for their involvement in key questions regarding African people such as the roots, the dark period of the slavery, the issues of immigration, climate change, water and food, health, as well as human rights, education and gender equality.

www.artfortheworld.net | art-for-the-world.blogspot.it | [email protected] Geneva emerges as a unique place to bring together a highly multicultural audience, a perfect setting for policy dialogue given the numerous international organizations based in the city, and at the same time, a forward-looking art scene.

In this context and during the period of the exhibition, a series of collateral events will take place at the Château de Penthes:

- Two solo performances of the South African choreographers, both produced by FLUXUM Laboratory : On May 7 performance by Nelisiwe Xaba On June 27 and June 28 performance by Dada Masilo

- Africa Fashion Show on May 30 and 31. The second edition of the Africa Fashion Show Geneva (AFSG), an annual event organized by Crucible Events & Planners at Château de Penthes. The show will provide an opportunity to bring to an international audience, creative designs from a diverse group of talented African fashion designers and models from all corners of the continent to celebrate Africa’s diverse cultural heritage.

- A concert by Jackson Wahengo (Namibia)

-Screenings of African films in collaboration with the Milano African Film Festival.

HERE AFRICA is an ART for The World’s project in collaboration with the Canton of Geneva (Office for International Geneva), the United Nations, the Foundation for Geneva, Ibraaz (London) and the Fluxum Foundation/Flux Laboratory.

The project has been made possible thanks to the support of the City of Geneva, the Loterie Romande, the CBH (Companie Bancaire Helvétique), the Museum of the Swiss Abroad, the Office du Tourisme de Genève, the Société Privé de Gérance, …..

Special thanks to: Nouveau Musée National de Monaco, the Collection Patrick Fuchs, (Geneva), CAAC – The Pigozzi Collection (Geneva), the Collection Pierre Huber (Geneva), Kulturforum Süd-Nord e.V., and Art & Public – Cabinet PH (Geneva), Sébastien Bertrand Gallery (Geneva), Guy Bärtschi Gallery (Geneva), André Magnin Gallery (Paris), Kamel Mennour Gallery (Paris), A Palazzo Gallery (Brescia) and Laveronica Gallery (Modica/I).

ART for The World, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO), associated with the United Nations Department of Public Information, was founded in Geneva in 1996. Its mission is to create meaningful and lasting dialogue between peoples, cultures and worldviews through the universal language of art and cinema.

www.artfortheworld.net | art-for-the-world.blogspot.it | [email protected]