Indigo Waves and Other Stories: Re-Navigating the Afrasian Sea and Notions of Diaspora brings together works by several contemporary artists, filmmakers, musicians, writers and researchers. Combining new commissions with existing projects, the exhibition traces links between the Asian and African regions, manifesting overlays and diasporic transfers between two areas of increased global political, economic and cultural importance in the 21st century.
With works by Kelani Abass, Malala Andrialavidrazana, Shiraz Bayjoo, Rossella Biscotti, M’barek Bouhchichi, Nikhil Chopra, Dhow Countries Music Academy, Tishani Doshi, Köken Ergun and Fetra Danu, Adama Delphine Fawundu, Haji Gora Haji, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami und Belinda Zhawi, Clara Jo, Jasmine Nilani Joseph, John Njenga Karugia, Jeewi Lee, Lavanya Mani, Oscar Murillo, Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Dominic Sansoni, Sim Chi Yin, Jennifer Tee, Jack Beng-Thi, Abdourahman A. Waberi

The Indian Ocean emerges as a communal horizon that reveals shades of cultural, linguistic, political and historical passage from ancient times to the present. The exhibition takes us from ancient routes of transregional exploration, trade and seasonal migration up through contemporary afroasiatic exchanges, from languages, sounds, waters, economies, philosophies and more.

Ziwa Kuu, the Swahili Sea, the Afrasian Sea, the Indian Ocean, Ratnakara, Eastern Ocean, Indic Ocean or Bahari Hindi are just a few of the plethora of names used to characterise a body of water, making up a fifth of the earth’s oceans, and which has been dubbed the oldest continuum in human history. It spreads between the East African coast, bordering Asia on the north, engulfing Australia in the east and stretching south to the Southern Ocean.

The exhibition consists of two parts that have been composed in resonance, showing concurrently at the Gropius Bau and SAVVY Contemporary in Berlin. While moving between these venues, visitors can experience fluid associations that open up like the tug and swell of tides. The exhibition is accompanied by a public programme across the two exhibition venues.

Curated by Natasha Ginwala and Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung with Michelangelo Corsaro

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