Last week, the Armory Show announced the subject of its Focus section would be “African Perspectives,” curated by “Contemporary And (C&)” founders Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba — and now, the curators have chosen their Commissioned Artist: Kapwani Kiwanga. In this role, Kiwanga will be responsible for creating an on-site project, designing the Armory Show catalogue, and producing a limited edition artwork, the proceeds from which will benefit MoMA.
“Through her artistic practice Kapwani connects historic narratives, struggles and archives with very contemporary moments,” Mutumba said in a statement. “She grows and contributes to an understanding of not only entangled (post) colonial histories, but also of the importance of looking back as an artist to be able to form and comprehend the present.”
Born in Ontario and based in Paris, Kiwanga has a background in anthropology and social science, often taking research methodology into her artistic practice. Her work — which spans video, sound, and performance — takes on subjects including Afrofuturism, anti-colonialism, collective memory, and pop culture. For example, in “Maji Maji” Jeu de Paume in 2014 and “Kinjiketile Suite” at South London Gallery in 2015 (pictured above), Kiwanga examined the history of the Maji Maji War, the 1905–1907 uprising against colonial rule in German East Africa (now Tanzania).
— Anneliese Cooper (@DawnDavenport)
(Screenshot from “Kapwani Kiwanga: Kinjiketile Suite, 15 Apr – 7 Jun 2015” by South London Gallery)
