11:20 — 12:00 (May 22) New Treryakov Gallery Small Hall
#heritage_as_a_resource
Speeches by foreign speakers
Until the Middle Ages, Africa was home to some of the world’s greatest civilizations — from Ancient Egypt to the empires of Ghana, Mali, and Great Zimbabwe. Alongside feudal Europe, the continent experienced its own "Golden Age" — an era of prosperity, flourishing trade, and powerful kingdoms whose influence extended far beyond their borders. Today, contemporary African art is reshaping global perspectives: it reinterprets postcolonial heritage, engages in dialogue with the continent’s multifaceted history, and fosters a new understanding of Africa as a source of strength, beauty, and depth. However, Africa is not solely — or even primarily — defined by postcolonial discourse. It is a continent of astonishing depth, whose cultural layers humanity is only beginning to comprehend.
How can Africa reclaim its rightful place in the history of world art?
What challenges do exhibition curators face, and what power does artistic expression hold in museums?
Can contemporary African art simultaneously serve as a form of resistance and a space for reimagining?
Speaker: Alessandro Romanini, Curator of the Côte d’Ivoire Pavilion at the Venice Biennale (2022), Curator of the Exhibition "Reversed Safari. Contemporary African Art" Raphael Chikukwa, Executive Director and Chief Curator, National Gallery of Zimbabwe (Zimbabwe)